Julie Mehretu

Julie Mehretu

Before Viewing

The scale of an artwork can affect the distance the viewer stands to see the whole image.

Artists use strategies of erasure and concealment through building up layers.

Absence can be as compelling as presence because it can add a sense of mystery or wonder. Absence can be more interesting/compelling.

The process of drawing and painting can be additive and subtractive by layering. Layers can be added over top of what is already there, but the bottom layers disappear/subtract through layering. 

While Viewing

Mehretu's assistants help keep her organized and bring knowledge of their different art backgrounds (fine art, printmaking, furniture polishing)

Her paintings are very geometric and resemble architecture and maps.  They cause the viewer to see lines and shapes as art.

After Viewing

The size of Mehretu's paintings and the amount of people involved in the process relate to works of epic scale in the history of art.

Her work has many layers and parts are covered up as a new layer is added which relates to destruction and disintegration.

She can incorporate the ideas of a map of capitalism and economic development in relation to its location through the use of map and architecture qualities such as lines.