About this episode

This episode explores the contributions of pioneering women in color theory, featuring insights from cultural historian Alexandra Loske and artist Zeynep Sagir.

You might have heard of men like Isaac Newton or Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, but who were the pioneering women writing on colour theory? To answer that question, we’re joined by cultural historian Alexandra Loske and The Colour Club founder Zeynep Sagir. Together, they uncover the lives of figures like Martha Gartside, Emily Noyes Vanderpoel and Carry van Biema. From intricate colour grids to radical visual experiments, we study the work, stories and lasting legacies of these women – revealing how their influence is being recognised today. ------- Alexandra is a colour expert, art historian and museum curator. Her exhibition 'Colour: A Chromatic Promenade through the Royal Pavilion' was on display at The Royal Pavilion in Brighton in 2025. She is also author of 'The Artist's Palette' and 'Colour: A Visual History'. Zeynep is an artist, colour consultant, and founder of The Colour Club. Through The Colour Club, Zeynep runs workshops, hosts events, and offers consultancy, as well as publishing articles and interviews. ------- Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YK3CVlqDe4 You can email us with any questions via podcast@nationalgallery.org.uk Find out…

People in this episode

Host: The National Gallery

Guests: Alexandra Loske, Zeynep Sagir

Topics covered

• women in color theory
• cultural history
• art history
• color experimentation
• legacy of women artists

Keywords

• color theory
• women artists
• Martha Gartside
• Emily Noyes Vanderpoel
• Carry van Biema
• cultural historian
• art history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Colour Club, The National Gallery

Books & works: Colour: A Chromatic Promenade through the Royal Pavilion, The Artist's Palette, Colour: A Visual History

More episodes of Stories in Colour

• Pink is for girls, blue is for boys · July 8, 2026 · 58 min
• The hunt for the blackest black · July 1, 2026 · 36 min
• Decoding paintings through colour · June 17, 2026 · 46 min
• The mauve measles: when purple went viral · June 10, 2026 · 51 min
• Deadly chemical cousins: oranges and yellows · June 2, 2026 · 42 min
• A blue more expensive than gold − ultramarine · May 26, 2026 · 52 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Stories in Colour podcast page.