Geometric Primes

Geometric Primes is a series of posters visualizing the complete set of three-digit prime numbers in a series of styles and only using basic geometric shapes based on squares, circles, and triangles.

Each print contains all 143 prime numbers with 3 digits. Each is represented by an image composed of simple geometric shapes based on its digital root and colors based on its digits. Arranging these images sequentially creates colorful collages of prime numbers based on simple rules.

For each poster, a unique shape was assigned to the digital root of each prime number which is calculated by iteratively summing its digits until one remains. (All known prime numbers greater than 3 have digital roots of 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, or 8.)

Example shapes — Isometric shapes built from cubes from Collection 1, Series 1

A color palette was assigned to each type of shape (squares, circles, triangles). Colors from that palette were then assigned to digits zero through nine.

Example colors — Color palette from Collection 1, Series 1

These shapes were then combined with the colors to create a unique image for each prime number. For example, the digital root of 739 is 1 (7 + 3 + 9 = 19 → 1 + 9 = 10 → 1 + 0 = 1). Using the shape for the digital root of 1 and the colors for 7, 3, and 9 from Collection 1, Series 1 gives the final shape for that poster.