These days, colour feels decidedly out. Last December, Pantone announced that Cloud Dancer, a shade of off-white, would be its 2026 colour of the year, prompting headlines like “You read that white”. Before that, minimalist design aesthetics had been on the rise, so much so that a TikTok account named “That Sad Beige Lady” began mocking the shift towards muted colour palettes. Even today, the fashion micro-trend of the moment is inspired by the style of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, someone whose wardrobe appeared to exclusively include blacks, whites and tans.
Perhaps that means there’s never been a better time for the release of Rainbow Dreams: Color and Light in Contemporary Art, a new book by Olga Rei and Valentine Uhovski. Featuring over 100 contemporary artists, the book is filled with pages of vibrant, colourful works, including a range of paintings, sculptures, and interactive installations. It’s a feast for the eyes, especially ones that have been subjected to a world that feels like it’s becoming more visually and spiritually muted by the day.
In the book’s introduction, Rei and Uhovski, who are also founders of the creative collective Rainbow Contemporary, sum up the importance of colour today best. “Rainbows, in their timeless simplicity, remind us of the miracle of existence. They can serve as a visual antidote to life’s complexities, or as a gentle reminder of how beauty always finds its way through.”
Ahead of Rainbow Dreams’ release, we spoke to the editors to learn more about the process of creating the book.
What inspired you to publish an art book showcasing exclusively rainbow-hued works?
Olga Rei and Valentine Uhovski: We’ve realised that in many ways we’ve been unconsciously drawn to rainbow-hued art for well over a decade. As a hobby, we travel to museums, galleries, and art fairs around the world, and there’s something universal, beautiful, and touching about the spectrum in contemporary art. We wanted to bring that hope and wonder not only to art lovers but also to those who might appreciate the beauty of colour in general.
Bright colours seem to be out of vogue as of late. In an increasingly dull world, what do you think the importance of colour and vibrancy is?
Olga Rei and Valentine Uhovski: Individuality and colour are so vital. One thing we’ve learned while curating the book is how different these global artists interpret colour in creating their own worlds. Current social media algorithms, uniform news cycles, and monotone fashion are dangerous to the beauty of self-expression, and in that way, hanging on to colour and celebrating it is always crucial. When growing up under a different political regime (both of us spend our early childhoods in USSR), colour was for us a symbol of freedom and joy for both of us, and no one should take it for granted.
How did you decide which artists and pieces to feature? Can you tell me about your creative collective, Rainbow Contemporary?
Olga Rei and Valentine Uhovski: We founded the collective days into the first pandemic lockdown in 2020. We wanted to provide something hopeful to the world, even in a tiny capacity. Along with friends like Jaspre Guest and Ramzy Masri, we’ve done a few fundraisers for Save the Children and kids in Ukraine, but this project encompasses the biggest artist compilation ever for us. We were lucky enough to hear and discover more relevant contemporary artists in the years that followed, and we ultimately compiled our dream artist list. Luckily, in making the book, everyone was so receptive and got the DNA of the project, including Phaidon. We wound up featuring 108 artists in the book.
The artworks in the book are also accompanied by interviews with artist Judy Chicago, writer Sarah Thorton and artist Mickalene Thomas. What made you want to include conversations with these creatives?
Olga Rei and Valentine Uhovski: Judy is a true legend, and she has used colour in so many different mediums, contexts, and decades. Her and Sarah’s wisdom on the subject is incredible. And Mickalene has been our longtime friend, whose brilliance with colour and portraits is undeniable. We’re honoured to feature them both, along with an original poem by Shantell Martin.
If you had to choose, which work in the book is your favourite?
Olga Rei and Valentine Uhovski: It honestly changes every time we flip through the book! Today it was cool to remember Shoplifter’s Chromo Sapiens installation at the Venice Biennale, which took our breath away the first time we saw it. We also live with a lot of colourful art, and Derrick Adams has always been a true beacon of inspiration for us. We look at one of his floaties every day. Zoe Walsh is an incredibly talented artist, for those who haven’t yet seen their art. And someone like Raúl de Nieves can create rainbow magic in pretty much any medium.
What do you hope audiences take away from Rainbow Dreams?
Olga Rei and Valentine Uhovski: One of the quotes in the book by Judy Chicago really stuck with us: “Choose hope and to embrace the rainbow.” It’s so crucial now and more than ever to embrace light over the darkness and art over uncertainty. And, ultimately, we want our readers to feel a tiny bit happier after turning the colourful pages.
Rainbow Dreams: Color and Light in Contemporary Art by Olga Rei and Valentine Uhovski is published by Phaidon and is available here from 8 April 2026.
