The Woman Who Sees 100 Million More Colors

A Rare Gift of Sight

Most of us walk through life seeing a modest one million shades of color. Concetta Antico sees one hundred times more. She is what scientists call a tetrachromat—a rare human capable of perceiving an estimated 100 million colors, thanks to a fourth color receptor in her eyes. She's not only been confirmed by leading vision scientists including Dr. Kimberly Jameson of UC Irvine and Dr. Jay Neitz of the University of Washington, but she's also the only artist in the world known to possess this visual superpower. And it shows.

Her gallery in La Jolla is unlike any other. The walls pulse with vivid nocturnes, misty psychedelic dreamscapes, luminous botanicals, and solar storms captured in oil paint. They're not abstract interpretations. They're what she actually sees. From moonlit blues with subtle saffron shadows to sunsets streaked with hundreds of barely perceptible pinks, Concetta’s art is a direct translation of a spectrum only she perceives. "These aren’t artistic licenses. This is what I see in nature," she says matter-of-factly.

A Lifetime of Training for the Gold

But her story is not simply one of rare genetics. It’s about rigorous dedication. "It’s like someone born with superior muscles but who never trained for the Olympics," she explains. "I trained. I’ve been painting since I was five." Originally from Australia, Concetta opened her first fine art school in Bird Rock in 1995, pioneering retail oil painting education in San Diego. She’s taught over 20,000 San Diegans how to paint—all while building her own career as an internationally collected artist with over 1,000 paintings sold.

Her mutation might be a genetic anomaly, but what she’s done with it is pure discipline. Scientists have documented not just her vision, but her ability to mix color with photographic accuracy. In one test, she placed 26 subtly shaded pigment chips into the correct spectrum order in under a minute—something no one else had accomplished. In another, she was shown light patterns that she alone described as glowing with hidden flares of emerald and violet.

And her training is far from over. Japan’s government recently invited her to speak at their national gallery and participate in further scientific study. "They want to know what I know," she laughs, "and honestly, I think tetrachromacy is an evolutionary step. I just happened to be lucky enough to get it first."

The Salon of Art

Concetta's La Jolla gallery is more than a gallery. It's a school, a sanctuary, and a window into a world most people can’t imagine. Nestled in her bright, plant-filled studio is a teaching space where she holds classes and one-on-one sessions. The walls are lined with student paintings, some of which belong to her very first student—from over 30 years ago.

Long before “paint and sip” parties or virtual art nights existed, Concetta pioneered art experiences that felt immersive, joyful, and inclusive. She created “Art Tours” that paired plein-air painting with picnics and wine. She introduced evening classes for working professionals and developed children’s art programs for YMCA locations and San Diego schools. Her influence helped normalize accessible fine art instruction before it became trendy.

"I don’t just paint. I teach people to see," she says. Her classes are filled with students who arrive thinking they can't draw a stick figure and leave having created oil paintings bursting with newfound color understanding. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in training the brain to recognize and replicate value—the subtle shift of color from dark to light—which she calls the most important element in any painting.

Beyond the Rainbow: Teaching Color Through a Tetrachromat’s Eyes

"Everyone can grow their color vision," she insists. While her fourth receptor is rare, the ability to improve color perception is not. Through her instruction, students unlock levels of seeing they didn’t think were possible. "It’s like fitness for your eyes," she says. "You may not become a tetrachromat, but you will see more than you ever did before."

Her metaphor is compelling. Just as you might not be born with Olympic speed, you can still train, run faster, and appreciate your body's potential. Her students don’t just leave with new art. They leave with a new vision.

Windows Into Her World: A Look at the Art Itself

Step inside Concetta Antico’s gallery and you're instantly immersed in a technicolor symphony—one that dances between the cosmic and the intimate. Her art spans genres and emotions, yet every piece carries her unmistakable signature: color that feels alive.

Among the standouts is "Feeling Groovy," a massive 48-by-60-inch psychedelic trip that swirls with hues you’re not entirely sure you’ve seen before. It’s not just eye-catching; it’s a mood, a movement, a visual soundtrack that transports you. Right beside it, a painting of three serene swans drifting on a lake in Ireland offers a softer, reflective palette, yet somehow just as vivid.

Nature remains one of her greatest muses—especially her famed peacocks. Their iridescent blues and emerald greens, rendered in lush, luminous strokes, almost shimmer off the canvas. Botanicals, painted from life, exude a delicate intensity. A field of wildflowers isn’t just pink and green—it’s fifty shades of coral, ochre, and jade.

Then there are the nightscapes—Concetta’s nocturnes. Painted in low light, they feature dusky purples and deep midnight blues, punctuated with bursts of unexpected warmth. "I see more color in the dark," she says, and the evidence is glowing on her walls.

One corner of the gallery is dedicated to her space-inspired works: nebulas, blood moons, and comets captured with the same scientific precision and emotional lyricism. A small canvas titled "Haley Bop" recently sold to a collector in Canada, while another, an expansive nebula piece, stretches nearly floor-to-ceiling and pulses with galactic energy.

Not one to limit her vision to canvas alone, Concetta has also begun painting directly onto upholstered furniture—chaise lounges, chairs, and cushions—each wrapped in canvas and hand-painted with her signature flair. They’re art you can sit in, functional yet one-of-a-kind.

Her collection is more than beautiful. It’s immersive, challenging, and deeply personal. In every brushstroke, there’s a quiet invitation to slow down and really see.

A Legacy in Living Color

Concetta is now focused on legacy, with her work being featured in BBC documentaries, scientific publications, and art exhibitions around the globe. She regularly returns to Australia, where her roots and inspiration first formed, and now divides her time between continents. But San Diego is home. And her work here—through her gallery, her paintings, and her teaching—continues to color the world of others in profound ways.

"People used to tell me I was running off a cliff when I opened my studio," she says. "I guess I’m still running. But the view is spectacular."

To see Concetta Antico's work or enroll in classes, visit The Salon of Art in La Jolla or explore her gallery online.

Follow Concetta Antico:

Instagram:@concettaantico

Facebook:Concetta Antico, The Salon of Art

Website:www.concettaantico.com

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