“I first saw Lucy on the number 55 bus going into central London. It was 2009 and at that time youth culture felt subdued, almost deliberately plain. It was the era of normcore, when people dressed to blend in rather than stand out. And then there was Lucy: striking, composed, unmistakably herself.”-Tim Walker
Color Mode is the first book on makeup artist Lucy Bridge’s work, created through a close collaboration with renowned creative director Veronica Ditting. Ten specially commissioned stories by leading photographers are interspersed with “Looks in Progress,” behind-the-scenes images that reveal Lucy’s creative process and working practices, and capture her aesthetic in its ultimate form. Lucy’s work instinctively challenges beauty norms and her use of color and texture is resolutely bold and expressive. The book contains more than 380 images that serve as inspiration to anyone interested in beauty, image-making and visual culture.
“When I saw Lucy’s work, I felt she was pushing things further than other makeup artists.
There was a surprise factor. I wanted to make pictures that push you and surprise you,
and Lucy was perfect for that.”–Dries Van Noten
Color Mode’s photographic stories are testament to Lucy’s ongoing creative partnerships, technical skill, and the range of looks and narratives she creates through makeup. Each feature captures a different facet of her practice. Jack Davison’s photography utilizes unique double exposures of vivid colors and shapes in surrealist settings. The book’s cover image reveals Lucy’s iconic makeup palettes in an abstract manner. Carlijn Jacobs’ story explores dramatic colors and experimental textures to create exaggerated and dynamic looks. Sam Rock’s photography documents expressive body painting, creating a world where the line between makeup and clothing is blurred. In the story with Tim Walker, a shared love of theatrical characters is brought to life through color washes, strong pigments, and electric-hued accents.
The design and layout of the book are dynamic, combining precision with a strong rhythm that echoes the carefully curated content. The first page of each of the ten photographic stories displays the makeup colors used within. The colors originate from their branded product names, sequenced in the order that they appear on the models. The book also features a selection of editorial works from 2009 to 2026.
Lucy and Veronica closely collaborated on all aspects of the book, from commissioning the shoots to poetic text fragments framing the “Looks in Progress,” making it a highly personal and unique project.
Photographic contributions come from Jack Davison, Carlijn Jacobs, Matthieu Lavanchy, Jean Marques, Oliver Hadlee Pearch, Thurstan Redding, Sam Rock, Luis Alberto Rodriguez, Paolo Roversi, Esther Theaker, and Tim Walker. Texts reflecting on their ongoing collaborations are by Haider Ackermann, Saskia de Brauw, Dries Van Noten, and Tim Walker, alongside a personal conversation about where it all started between Lucy and Julia Bridge.
