Julie Mehretu

Ethiopia-born, Michigan-raised artist Julie Mehretu has received international critical acclaim for her complex compositions that layer varied graphic elements recalling architectural renderings, calligraphy, and graffiti. Classically trained and well versed in the history of art, Mehretu brings technical and intellectual insight to her work. At the same time, her art shows the spontaneity, gesture and energy inherent in her creative process. The City Sitings exhibition and catalog will highlight three important elements of Mehretu’s work—Citizenship & Belonging, Mobility, and Mapping—to look at the interplay among ideas, visual arts, and people’s lived experiences. A central component of the exhibition will be a site-specific installation in galleries next to Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry frescoes. Mehretu’s large-scale mural will pose a counterpoint to those by Rivera, and will likewise draw a connection to the local Detroit community.

This exhibition is organized by the Detroit Institute of Arts in collaboration with Julie Mehretu. Support has been provided through generous grants from the Joyce Foundation and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Additional support provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit.

Julie Mehretu
City Sitings