Julie Mehretu’s use of colour and trends

Julie Mehreto’s painted, drawn, and digitally layered artwork uses dynamic colour combinations in a graphic, expressive way to highlight Abstract Expressionist colour. Her gestural paintings are introduced with a subdued palette, such as black and grey, that is interrupted by intensely bright, layered geometric and linear shapes. This creates an energetic combination of colour that produces a captivating visual detachment from the environment she is studying. An extreme contrast in the use of colour generates a distinguishable appearance and prevents an unsettled and purposeless impression (however still representing her disorderly, unsystematic style).  

Mehretu’s work shows a clear connection to the 1950’s trend Abstract Expressionism, through the use of expressive or emotional rough brush strokes. The trend applies contrasting approaches and techniques to portray viewpoints and reactions through alternative means. Julie Mehretu values improvisation and a lack of premeditation and breaks away from uninspired techniques and content themes to create a personal reflection of her inner most self within her work. Gestural marks and splashes are used to achieve a look of spontaneity, foreshadowed by the layering of marks and intentional use of striking colour. Broken, irregular lines are drawn to represent her perspective, and producing a loose outline of her subject matter.