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A new exhibition curated by undergraduate students from the University of Pennsylvania explores the deep human history associated with a popular hue that has stood the test of time—Into the Blue: The Pursuit of a Color opens Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Penn Museum.

Unlike today, blue was not easy to produce nor acquire in the ancient past. The relentless pursuit of blue for use in textiles and art has led to the development of ingenious methods in producing this rare, highly prized color that holds significant meaning for diverse cultures around the world throughout history.

Into the Blue spans 4,000 years—displaying 20 objects from across the Penn Museum’s collections, including select artifacts from the Middle East, China, Africa, ancient Egypt, and Central America.

The exhibition examines three themes: Obtaining Blue, Making Blue, and Synthesizing Blue.

Obtaining Blue highlights the mining and transportation of lapis lazuli, a semi-precious gemstone used in decorative and ceremonial objects in the Middle East—along with the trapping of kingfishers, brightly colored birds whose feathers were used to decorate articles of adornment in China.

Into the Blue will be on view through spring 2026 and is included with Penn Museum admission.

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