Colorlab Maria Boto

Colorlab – María Boto

Art + Science

Laboratorium, KASK, Gent Art Academy

the experimental lab for art/design and biotechnology of KASK

María Boto, PhD, is a scientific researcher at KASK/School of Arts  of University College Ghent, where she is responsible for Laboratorium: the experimental lab for art/design and biotechnology of KASK. Her main research interest is :

Alternative and sustainable coloring materials to be applied in the fields of art and design.

research samples: innovative and sustainable pigments made in the lab from artificially grown micro algae, mushrooms, roots, bark, leaves, and other natural materials. Click the above headline for a full overview of natural materials and their application for paint, dye and ink making.

Colorlab Chicago – 2024
a collaborative project and exhibition with master painting students connected to Columbia College Chicago and professional artists, inspired by
Colorlab research, methods and materials

Colorlab research paintings by Robyn Flynn and Bibiana Saucedo

an online exhibition with works by:

The research paints used in these works were hand mulled in the studio from Colorlab lab pigments such as micro algae and carotenes, and made into paints with natural acrylic or gum arabic binders. Click here for more works, and for impressions of the research process in the studio. All artists were surprised by the vibrant luminosity of the unusual paint mixtures as well as by the relative ease with which a full spectrum of colors could be obtained without using any toxic or petro- chemicals ingredients. There were no noticeable VOC emissions of any kind. Most of these natural colorings also were relatively light stable, although light fastenesss could be enhanced through the use of mordants or simply by coating finished paintings with a layer of UV protective varnish.

Abena Motaboli is a Southern African born educator, visual artist, and writer based in Chicago. Abena specializes on alternative pigments and paints. https://abenaart.com/
painting on canvas, 2022
work is made using tea, coffee, Cochineal, and other natural paint formulations

On painting with tea & coffee over the years…

“I use tea and coffee in my paintings as well as dirt, the earth… whatever I can find – Tea is central to my upbringing; when I moved to the U.S in 2012, I found myself wanting something that reminded me of home and all I could think about were the number of conversations we would have with friends, families, and visitors over tea back in Lesotho and I was uninterested in using materials like oil paints that are toxic.”