Julie Mehretu, the Ethiopian-born artist celebrated for her dynamic abstract works and engagement with social and political issues, has been named an Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. This prestigious honour recognises individuals whose work has significantly enriched the arts and culture in France and beyond.
A Distinguished Career
Born in Addis Ababa in 1970, Mehretu moved to the United States as a teenager, where her artistic journey took root. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College, Michigan, studied at the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal, and earned her Master of Fine Arts with honours from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1997.
Mehretu's artistic practice spans painting, drawing, and printmaking, and her work is characterised by an intricate interplay of abstract forms, urban landscapes, and layered imagery. She explores themes of displacement, identity, and resilience, often integrating photographic references from media coverage of conflict and social unrest into her compositions.
Mehretu's Artistic Style
Drawing is central to Mehretu's approach, serving as the foundation for her large-scale paintings and intricate works on paper. Her art merges the personal with the political, examining the layers of history and space that shape contemporary existence.
Her compositions feature swirling lines, fragmented architectural forms, and gestural marks that create a sense of movement and energy. These abstract elements are often layered over ghostly traces of images, which are sourced from media reports on global conflicts and crises. Although obscured in the final work, these images remain a haunting presence, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities of modern life.
Mehretu’s ability to reinterpret historical and current events through an abstract lens has solidified her position as one of the most important artists of her generation. Her works provoke thought and encourage reflection on the sociopolitical conditions of individuals and communities.
