Julie Mehretu creates large-scale, gestural, abstract paintings. Her work conveys a compression of time, space, and place, along with a collapse of art historical references. Known for her deep engagement in political and social issues, Mehretu’s dynamic compositions have been internationally recognised for their ability to convey the energy, chaos, and urgency of our globalized world. Over the years, her works have referenced architecture, literature, nature, migration, and a number of significant socio-political issues, such as the Arab Spring and the Black Lives Matter movements.
Her work has been featured in major solo exhibitions around the world, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (2002), Carnegie International (2004–05), Sydney Biennial (2006), Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (2010), dOCUMENTA (13) (2012), Sharjah Biennial (2015), Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves, Porto, Portugal (2017), Kettle’s Yard at the University of Cambridge (2019), the 58th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale (2019), Palazzo Grassi-Pinault Collection (2024), Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney (2024-2025), and K21 in Düsseldorf (2025).
Throughout her career, Mehretu has received numerous prestigious awards, including the MacArthur Fellowship (2005); The American Academy’s “Berlin Prize” (2007); the “Liberty Award for Artistic Leadership” given each year by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), New York (2018) and the U.S. Department of State’s Medal of Arts (2015). She was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2021, and in 2025, she received the Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French Ministry of Culture.
Beyond her artistic work, Mehretu is a passionate advocate for social justice, and has been involved in efforts to save Nina Simone’s childhood home, as well as contributing to the Art for Justice Fund. In 2025, she fully funded the position of Campaign Coordinator for the Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth, an initiative working to eliminate Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP). Mehretu also supported the Whitney’s ‘Free 25 and Under’ program with a generous donation, encouraging greater access to art for young people and emerging artists.
Selected Works
Julie Mehretu
Among the Multitude I, 2019 / 2021
Ink and Acrylic on Canvas
122 × 152 cm
Julie Mehretu
Among the Multitude II, 2019 / 2021
Ink and Acrylic on Canvas
122 × 152 cm
Julie Mehretu
Among the Multitude IV, 2019 / 2021
ink and acrylic on canvas
121,92 × 152,4 cm
Julie Mehretu
Berliner Plätze, 2008/2009
ink and acrylic on canvas
304,8 × 426,7 cm
Julie Mehretu
Epigraph, Damascus, 2016
Photogravure, sugar lift aquatint, spit bite aquatint, open bite, Hahnemühle Bütten 350 gr
248 × 574 cm
Jessica Rankin
Struggling With Word That Count, detail, 2014-2016
collage on paper
30 × 30 cm
Julie Mehretu
Metoikos (she opened her mouth, to breathe lightning), 2019 / 2021
Ink and Acrylic on Canvas
244 × 305 cm
Julie Mehretu
Untitled, 2017
ink on paper
66 × 102,5 cm
Julie Mehretu
Untitled, 2017
ink on paper
66 × 102,5 cm
Julie Mehretu
Strange, in between thing, 2019 / 2021
Ink and Acrylic on Canvas
290 × 229 cm
Julie Mehretu
Metoikos (half extinguished beam 07.04.21,7pm), 2019 / 2021
Ink and Acrylic on Canvas
290 × 229 cm
c|g Exhibitions
Luis in friendly company | Madrid
11.09.–08.11.2025
The Spiral of Painting | Madrid
13.09.–26.10.2024
Under the Influence of the Ellipse | Berlin
28.01.–15.04.2023
Metoikos (in between paintings) | Berlin
17.09.–13.11.2021
Metoikos (in between drawings) | Madrid
11.09.–20.11.2021
Basel En Madrid | Madrid
17.06.–26.07.2020
Basel By Berlin | Berlin
17.–26.06.2020
So what is it that makes today’s homes so different, so appealing? | Madrid
27.02.–01.03.2020
From Hand To Mind | Berlin
16.11.2019–15.02.2020
Struggling With Words That Count | Berlin
01.11.2016–04.03.2017
Half A Shadow | Berlin
20.09.–01.11.2014
Julie Mehretu | Berlin
20.01.–20.03.2004
External Exhibitions
Solo Exhibition
KAIROS / Hauntological Variations | K21, Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf
10.05.–12.10.2025
Solo Exhibition
A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory | The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia , Sydney
29.11.2024–27.04.2025
Special Presentation
BMW Art Car #20 | Paris
21.05.–16.06.2024
Special Presentation
Ensemble | Palazzo Grassi, Venice
17.03.2024–06.01.2025
Performance
Monochromatic Light (Afterlife) | Park Avenue Armory, New York
27.09.–08.10.2022
Solo Exhibition
Julie Mehretu | Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
16.10.2021–06.03.2022
Solo Exhibition
Julie Mehretu | Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
25.03.–08.08.2021
Solo Exhibition
Julie Mehretu | LACMA, Los Angeles
03.11.2019–07.09.2020
Solo Exhibition
A Universal History of Everything and Nothing | Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, Porto
19.05.–03.09.2017
Group Exhibition
Earthfold | Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle
10.04.–12.06.2016
Video
News
Special Announcement
Architectural Digest: Saving the House That Gave Voice to Nina Simone
Special Announcement
Performa 2025 Opening Night Gala to Honour Julie Mehretu
Press
Susanne Gaensheimer on Julie Mehretu at K21
Press
Julie Mehretu on Arte.tv
Press
Julie Mehretu and Nairy Baghramian on Friendship – Frieze Magazine
Special Announcement
Congratulations to Julie Mehretu and Nida Sinnokrot for being featured in ArtReview's Power 100 list!
Special Announcement
The Whitney Is Now Free for Those 25 and Under. Julie Mehretu donated $2 million to the art museum to encourage young people to visit
Solo Exhibition
Major career survey to open at MCA, Sydney
Press
Ensemble: Das Versprechen der Modern – artmagazine
Special Presentation
Julie Mehretu Artwork Featured on Obama Presidential Center Museum Building
Press
Dynamics in form – Chapter – The Design Journal
Publication
Ensemble. Published by Marsilio Arte
Press
Wie eine rasende Leinwand – FAZ
Press
"Ensemble" Featured in the NY Times. Text by Rebecca Schmid
Selected Publications
Julie Mehretu, Ensemble, Pinault Collection Catalogue, Marsilio Arte, 2024
Julie Mehretu, A Universal History of Everything and Nothing, Fundacao de Serralves, Centro Bontin Center, Mousse, 2017
Julie Mehretu, Mural, Goldman, Sachs & Co., 2013
Julie Mehretu, Julie Mehretu: Black City, Musac Catalog, Hatje Cantz, 2006