International Klein Blue

The International Klein Blue (IKB) is a deep blue hue first mixed and patented by the French artist Yves Klein.

Related Topics:
Blue - Yves Klein

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International Klein Blue (or IKB as it is known in art circles) was developed by French artist Yves Klein as part of his search for colours which best represented the concepts he wished to convey as an artist. Although Klein had worked with blue extensively in his earlier career, it was not until 1958 that he used it as the central component of a piece (the colour effectively becoming the art). Klein embarked on a series of monochromatic works using IKB as the central theme. These included 'performance art' where Klein painted model's naked bodies and had them walk, roll and sprawl upon blank canvases as well as more conventional single-colour canvases.

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The secret of IKB's remarkable visual impact comes from it's heavy reliance on Ultramarine, as well as Klein's often thick and textured application of paint to canvas.

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