Julie Mehretu is an Ethiopian-American artist known for her sweeping, layered paintings that merge mapping, memory, and movement. Her works are not just visual experiences—they are political, architectural, and deeply personal explorations of our global condition.
Artistic Philosophy
At the heart of Mehretu’s work is the belief that abstraction can hold real-world weight. She sees the canvas as a space where history, geography, and identity collide—where borders blur and new narratives emerge. Each mark is part of a larger rhythm, echoing both chaos and connectivity.
Signature Work
Her monumental works, like Mogamma: A Painting in Four Parts and Stadia II, layer architectural blueprints, calligraphic marks, and gestural sweeps into visual symphonies. These paintings don’t depict the world—they deconstruct and rebuild it.
Process
ProcessMehretu begins with structured underlayers—maps, plans, photographs—before layering gestural lines and bursts of colour. The process is architectural, emotional, and often political. Each layer adds new meaning while obscuring others, mirroring how history is told and retold.
Why Her Work Matters
Julie Mehretu’s work reminds us that abstraction is never neutral. It carries place, politics, and personal histories. Her practice expands the language of painting—giving it the power to speak across continents, identities, and time.