Brown is back. After two decades of industrial chic and Millennial grey, brown—specifically, Mocha Mousse—is finally having its 15 minutes as Pantone’s Color of the Year 2025. “Underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence,” says Latrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe.”
The works in our February 2025 exhibition, Pantone 2025: Mocha Mousse, capture the spirit of comfort and indulgence associated with this soft, creamy brown. Each piece—ranging from plush fabrics and polished wood finishes to Hostess cupcakes and a wispy brunette bob—exudes warmth and invites quiet contemplation while the world rages on (in shades of grey, we’re assuming).
The resurgence of brown reflects a broader cultural shift away from technology and urbanization. In “Longing,” New York illustrator Pedro Gomes bathes an unwelcoming cityscape in cozy brown hues, restoring the connection between two alienated lovers. The juxtaposition of the harsh urban environment with soft, inviting colors serves as a commentary on the need for human connection amidst the chaos of modern life. Similarly, Heejo Kim’s dreamlike painting “Such a Good Egg” conveys a deep desire for tenderness and mutual understanding through masterfully executed but unspoken tension.
Elsewhere, Katherine Kane uses luxury-brand fabric in “Ostentatious Plummage” to satirize the vulgarity of wealth and materialism. Linda Joy Mullen’s “Charring” is no picnic either; the sumptuous, chocolate-colored headpiece, strung together with wire and curtains, echoes the “forms and colors left in the wake of the wildfires and how they speak to the fragile shapes left in hearts and souls.” Claire Kruger’s textile “Soft Rock (Land Sandwich)” transforms a geologic formation into a tasty-looking snack, while Andrew England’s “Nostalgia” and Alicia Zhuang’s “Donuts” tempt onlookers with affordable corner-store indulgences.
As we step out of Millennial grey and into our brown era, one thing is clear: Mocha Mousse is the color du jour, and it’s very much worth a taste. View Pantone 2025: Mocha Mousse via the button below, then scroll down for details about the participating artists and their work.
Alicia Zhuang
Alicia Zhuang is a recent graduate of Laguna College of Art and Design, where she majored in illustration and minored in fine art. Originally from Newton, Massachusetts, Alicia pursued her passion for art in Laguna Beach, California, seeking a fresh start. Her work, which she describes as a "vomit of rainbows," showcases her love for bold colors and light. She enjoys exploring digital and oil painting while experimenting with gouache. Alicia aims to create unique, colorful pieces that captivate and inspire her viewers.
Andrew England
Andrew England is a Los Angeles-based painter and mixed-media artist with degrees in mathematics from UCLA. Transitioning from a structured career in math, he finds inspiration in urban scenes that capture a sense of familiarity amid chaos. Working primarily from his home studio, Andrew has exhibited at Big Waves Gallery and was a finalist in the Mid-City Artists Project. His artistic process involves simplifying subjects he discovers in his neighborhood, focusing on their remarkable elements.
Ari Tabei
Aricoco (Ari Tabei), an interdisciplinary artist from Tokyo now based in NYC, explores non-hierarchical community structures through the lens of eusociality in social insects. Using sculptural garments and masks as protective living gear, she invents ritualistic play that reflects her childhood in Japan and critiques cultural contradictions about nature and society. Her work reveals a complex relationship between power and vulnerability as she embraces her fear of insects to highlight parallels in human social organization.
Claire Krüeger
Claire Krüeger is a multifaceted artist specializing in video, photography, illustration, and fiber arts. With decades of experience in the zine community, she focuses on community arts and empowering underrepresented voices. Her work blends geology and botany, exploring landscapes and location. Krüeger has taught various workshops, created educational content like the web series Dig In!, and collaborated on successful projects, including animated music videos. She is dedicated to accessible media and serves as the art director for Juked Magazine and Awst Press.
Edie Nadelhaft
Edie Nadelhaft is a visual artist known for her realist paintings and playful glass sculptures, which explore digital culture's impact on human experience, privacy, and the natural world. A Pittsburgh native and part-time Buddhist, Edie has lived in Manhattan's Lower East Side since 1998. She studied art at SUNY Purchase and the Massachusetts College of Art & Design. Her work has been exhibited widely across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, receiving several awards, including the Edward F. Albee Foundation Fellowship.
Ekin Balcıoğlu
Ekin Balcıoğlu is a multifaceted artist and writer based in Taos, New Mexico. She is deeply inspired by the region's pottery traditions and her ancestral heritage in ancient Greece and Mesopotamia. Her work celebrates the rich cultural significance of Pueblo ceramics, each piece serving as a narrative canvas connecting past and present. By weaving together diverse influences, Ekin invites viewers to reflect on the enduring power of pottery as a medium for storytelling and connection across time and culture.
Heejo Kim
Heejo Kim’s oil paintings portray figures with hidden facial expressions, suggesting secrecy and a dreamlike quality. Their gentle gestures convey a deep desire for connection, maintaining a careful distance, representing patience and the protection of their hearts. This embodiment of tenderness reflects their struggle for identity and existence, transcending notions of gender. Heejo’s artwork captures complex emotions through vibrant colors and textures, inviting viewers to engage with the narrative or create their own interpretations, fostering deep connections and shared experiences.
Jess Broze
Jess Broze uses art to express her reactions to the world, translating raw sensations of pleasure, pain, and moral ambiguity into tangible forms. Her work explores the complexity of identity through the phrase “I AM AT LEAST TWO,” highlighting the limitations of labels. Inspired by the playful exploration of children, she believes that artists maintain the freedom to play and experiment.
Jinseok Choi
Jinseok Choi is an interdisciplinary artist who explores contemporary culture through historical and cultural contexts through sculpture, installation, performance, and video. His recent works have been exhibited in South Korea and the U.S. at venues like Amado Art Space and Human Resources Los Angeles. He co-founded the artist-run Space 1 in Seoul and the mobile project space MOTOR in Los Angeles. Choi earned his MFA from the California Institute of the Arts in 2018 and currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
Jordan Holms
Jordan Holms is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in painting and textiles. Her work explores how aesthetic tastes are formed and understood, drawing inspiration from the built environment and online culture. Referencing commodity culture, folk art, and social media trends, Holms creates abstract pieces that reflect the complexities of taste in a world influenced by algorithms and societal elites. Her exhibitions have included venues such as the Marrow Gallery, the de Young Museum, and the Voss Gallery.
Julie Kitzes
Julie Kitzes grew up in a remote area of western Canada, developing a deep respect for nature and a passion for art. After facing health challenges that prevented her from pursuing veterinary medicine, she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of fine arts in illustration in 2017. Now based in Denver, she specializes in pet portraiture and animal art, creating impactful, affordable pieces that help clients celebrate and remember their beloved pets. Julie values clear communication and adapts her diverse skills to meet clients' needs.
Katherine Kane
Katherine Kane is a Costa Mesa-based artist who channels her neuroscience and social psychology background into powerful artwork that challenges societal norms. Without formal training, she uses various mediums to provoke critical thinking about social justice and inequalities. Inspired by her experiences as a woman of color, Kane's work blends activism and art to highlight racial disparities and elitism. Her art is displayed at Dove Biscuit Studios in Downtown LA, where she continues advocating for empathy and awareness.
Linda Joy Mullen
Linda Mullen founded Grace & Diggs, an art business specializing in immersive art experiences and wearable art crafted from upcycled materials. With a background in architecture, she explores themes of place and belonging through her whimsical headpieces and backdrops. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Linda has led community art projects, participated in fashion show fundraisers, and received an ALAANA Grant for her work on bi-racial adoption, Indigenous roots, and chosen families.
Madeleine Blake
Madeleine Graham Blake is an artist and exhibition designer from Klamath Falls, Oregon. She is known for her extensive photography of ranchers and rural families in the American West and her recent work documenting traditional clothing practices in India. Blake has published multiple books and has had her work widely exhibited across the West.
Matthew Reynolds
Matt Reynolds is an animation filmmaker and educator from the California Bay Area, holding an MFA in experimental animation from CalArts. His work blends grotesque and fantastical elements through stucco and styrofoam sculptures, creating playful yet menacing hybrid forms. His artistic exploration involves ambiguous signifiers rooted in architecture, cartoons, and biology while addressing themes of identity and autonomy. He teaches animation and media arts with the Los Angeles Community College District and LA Promise Fund.
Paul Acevedo Gomez
Paul Acevedo Gomez is a Mexican American artist celebrated for his large-scale drawings that reflect his heritage and bicultural experience. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, his work features traditional folklore and daily life scenes, blending historical and contemporary elements. Gomez, who received his master of fine arts from Louisiana State University in 2022, aims to explore identity through vibrant colors and dynamic compositions. His artist statement emphasizes the duality of his cultural experience, navigating between English and Spanish to highlight themes of otherness and personal heritage.
Pedro Pires Gomes
Originally from Lisbon, Pedro Gomes embarked on his artistic journey with a BA in Design before working in various advertising agencies. After relocating to New York in 2016, he completed an enriching internship at Printed Matter, which inspired him to self-publish a risograph zine. Later, he pursued a Master’s in Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts in London and became the art editor for Guernica Magazine. His work celebrates the mundane aspects of life, highlighting human behavior and resilience amid conflict through humor and exaggerated expressions.
Rene Vasquez
Rene Vasquez, an artist who studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, experienced a creative block after losing his work in an economic collapse and a break-in. After a ten-year hiatus, relocating to Winston-Salem ignited his passion for art. Embracing limited materials, he now creates abstract pieces that serve as a personal map of his life experiences. His work, filled with layers and transparency, reflects his journey and the beauty of human connection.
Victoria Jensen
Victoria Ann Jensen, born in 1998 in Voorhees, New Jersey, is a mixed-media artist pursuing her master of fine arts in visual studies at Norfolk State University. Using both digital tools and traditional materials, Victoria explores her Dominican and European heritage through food-inspired narratives. She has created large-scale murals in Virginia and has been featured in publications like the New York Times and exhibitions during Norfolk’s NEON festival.
This feature has been edited for length and clarity. All photos published with permission of the artist(s); featured graphics for Pantone 2025: Mocha Mousse by David Schwartz.
