The Color Black

“When I fell in love with black, it contained all color. It wasn’t a negation of color. It was an acceptance. Black is the most aristocratic color of all.” -Louise Nevelson

In this series, photographer Jamie Nelson explores color theory using the contrast between rich black skin tones and technicolor hues.   

Nelson uses color-blocking with clashing tones to create a bold impact. Fluorescent backdrops set the stage, as black skin tones form dynamic negative shapes, creating a silhouette effect. 

The artist, known for her love of color, uses black skin as the backdrop to colorful pigments and painterly brush strokes. Metallic Sudanese jewelry adorns the skin, for an additional study of texture and dimension.

Using black skin as both the canvas and the brushstroke, Nelson proves that black contains all color. She illustrates that the color black is not a negation of color- but rather the color of beauty.