Artist Končeta Antiko reveals tetrachromacy in Serbian women

Visual artist Končeta Antiko discovered that she perceives many more shades of colour than most people. The realization came when her students reported seeing only a single hue where she distinguished numerous tones, prompting her to ask why they had not mentioned it before.

Genetic testing later confirmed that Antiko has a biological predisposition for tetrachromacy – an enhanced colour perception caused by a fourth type of cone cell in the retina. The condition is linked to variants of X‑chromosome genes, meaning it occurs almost exclusively in biological women. Research from the University of Newcastle in the United Kingdom estimates that about 12 % of women carry the genetic potential for tetrachromacy, though many may not be aware of it.

Antiko’s experience highlights how the extra cone type can allow individuals to detect subtle differences in light that are invisible to the standard three‑cone visual system.