International Klein Blue
A deep blue made famous by Yves Klein's art and a special synthetic binder
International Klein Blue is a strong, deep blue first mixed by French artist Yves Klein. Its intense look comes from ultramarine pigment held in a matte synthetic resin, which keeps the colour vivid and flat. IKB became central to Klein's art, used on canvases, sculptures, and even painted bodies in performances.
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- First mixed by Yves Klein in France in 1958
- Uses ultramarine pigment in a special synthetic resin binder
- Known for its matte, vivid, and flat appearance
- Central to Klein's monochrome paintings and body art
- Displayed in museums such as Centre Pompidou, Paris
What colour is International Klein Blue?
International Klein Blue is a very deep, vivid blue. It stands out for its intensity and matte finish, which makes it look almost like velvet. The colour is striking and flat, without gloss or shine, and was designed to keep the ultramarine pigment as pure and bright as possible. It is closely linked to Yves Klein, who used it as the main feature in many of his artworks.
Where does International Klein Blue come from?
The colour was created by Yves Klein, a French artist, with help from Paris paint supplier Edouard Adam. Klein wanted a blue that would not lose its brightness when mixed with paint. Together, they used a synthetic resin binder called Rhodopas M, made by Rhône-Poulenc, to keep the ultramarine pigment intense. Klein registered the formula in France in 1960 but never patented it. The colour became his signature from 1958 onward.
How is International Klein Blue made?
International Klein Blue is made by suspending ultramarine pigment in a synthetic resin binder. The binder, a polyvinyl acetate called Rhodopas M (now sold as Médium Adam 25), keeps the pigment from dulling and gives the paint its matte look. This method allows the blue to stay vivid and flat, unlike traditional oil or acrylic binders.
Where International Klein Blue is used
Yves Klein used IKB in many ways: on canvases, sculptures, and in performance art. He often painted models' bodies with the colour and had them press themselves onto canvas, leaving blue imprints. Six sculptures in the Musiktheater im Revier in Germany are coated in IKB. The colour has also appeared in films, literature, and music, and is displayed in museums like the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Blue around the world
What the blue family means from country to country.
Blue was the colour of the French kings, whose arms were gold lilies on blue. It is the first band of the tricolour, and national sports teams are called Les Bleus.
Politics and protestRoyalty and powerPrideSource: Bleu de France (colour)Lapis lazuli has been mined in the mountains of Badakhshan for more than six thousand years. Ground to powder it gave ultramarine, the costliest blue in European painting.
Royalty and powerSacred and holyAweSource: Lapis lazuliThe chadari is a full-length covering for women with a mesh panel over the eyes. In Kabul and the north it is most often a light blue.
Protection and healingSource: BurqaThe blue band of the flag stands for the wish of the Armenian people to live under peaceful skies. The red above it is for the highlands and the struggle to survive.
Politics and protestHopeSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is sky blue, white and sky blue, created by Manuel Belgrano in 1812. National teams are called the Albiceleste, the white and sky blue.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of ArgentinaBoca Juniors play in blue and gold. The club's story is that in 1907 it took the colours of the flag of the next ship into port, which was Swedish.
Festival and celebrationPrideSource: Boca JuniorsShades and relatives of International Klein Blue
There are different versions of IKB, but all are based on Klein's original formula. It is sometimes compared with other deep blues like YInMn Blue, but its matte finish and intensity set it apart. Some confusion may arise with other ultramarine shades, but IKB is unique for its synthetic binder and link to Klein's art.
Colours that go with International Klein Blue
Harmonies are worked out from the value #0033CC. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about International Klein Blue
What colour is International Klein Blue?
International Klein Blue is a deep, vivid blue with a matte, flat finish. It is more intense and striking than most other blues because of its special binder.
Who created International Klein Blue?
The colour was created by French artist Yves Klein in collaboration with Paris paint supplier Edouard Adam.
What makes International Klein Blue different from other blues?
Its ultramarine pigment is suspended in a synthetic resin binder, which keeps the colour bright and matte, unlike traditional paints that can dull the pigment.
Where is International Klein Blue used?
It is most famous in Yves Klein's art, including canvases, sculptures, and performances where models' bodies were painted with IKB.
When was International Klein Blue first made?
It was first mixed in 1958 and became central to Klein's work from that time.
Good reading and sources
- International Klein Blue on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "International Klein Blue", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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