Jenna Ortega (star of Wednesday) wore hot pink to the Met Gala. Hillary Clinton, wore a lovely magenta gown.
Last year I was so excited that the Pantone color of the year was a color as opposed to a shade of gray. It actually put a skip in my walk. 2022’s color very peri, although lovely, didn't impact the world. What did was the color pink. It started with the 2022 Valentino collection encompassing all shades of hot pink (developed by Pantone). Valentino is an internationally famous Italian fashion designer with a style that's jet-set chic. He's also known for his RED (Romantic Eccentric Dress) collection. Red has been his signature color since 1959. That's 64 years.
But this year, Valentino Pink PP Collection by Pierpaolo Piccioli coincided with the buzz surrounding Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. That brought on the rise of Barbiecore, anything that references the fabulous world of Barbie and all things pink. Barbiecore spiked on Google trends around June last year and had 8.1 million views on TikTok. I wish I could trend like that.
Glenn Close in her fuchsia gown at the Met Gala and then in a magenta power suit for a business meeting . Notice how great hot pink looks with red in the first image and how nicely the magenta works with the neutral gray in the third image.
From the Met Gala to Barbiecore, everyone was wearing hot pink in 2022. I'm not surprised that Pantone's 2023 color of the year is Viva Magenta. While hot pink is fun, frivolous, and all things Barbie, magenta is pink all grown up. "Magenta is the color of universal harmony and emotional balance. It contains the passion, power, and energy of red, restrained by the introspection and quiet energy of violet. It promotes compassion, kindness, and cooperation. The color magenta represents cheerfulness, happiness, contentment, and appreciation. Most people feel more optimistic in its company." according to Nix Color Sensor, a professional color matching tool.
"PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family, inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known." says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute. She also states, "the color galvanizes our spirit, helping us build our inner strength.”
Women of power, who know themselves, have always worn magenta. Here's Celine Dion in 2008; Kate Middleton has been a fan of the color; there's already an article featuring her in the color of the year (we’re two weeks in), and Lizzo wore this stunning magenta gown at her 2019 American Music Awards performance.
Here’s me in the studio posing with some pots last Friday wearing a magenta sweater I brought so long ago it now lives at the studio. I don’t usually take pictures with pots but I’m particular proud of these coiled and thrown pots that are over 20”.
If this color rocks your socks, I'm writing to tell you that I've got you covered with several glazes. Nothing will make a room or you feel more like a precious jewel than the royal color of magenta. This color sings well with gold, blues, odd shades of greens, turquoise, pinks, and even reds.
I had all these versions of magenta on my glaze chart before Pantone's announcement, but I have to admit, it's been a while. I could only find three pieces in the studio that used any of them, all made before 2022. Writing this article has made me think of the color with new meaning, and I'm looking forward to using it in the future.
In ceramics, we call these colors chrome tin pinks. To make any color from pink to plum, you must use chrome and tin oxides in varying amounts to achieve them.
Some of my work using the color magenta, “LOVE” tiles, hydrangea vase, and a branch of quince in pinks and plum.
And just for the fun of it, here’s Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken sporting the trending colors.
Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken.