Artist Strong’s Art Style Study – Julie Mehretu
How do you study an art style? How do you learn a specific art style? How do you analyze art styles? How do you find your art style?
In this Style Study Session, we will use the 6 qualities of style to not only better understand the artist we study but also to apply these ideas to better develop your own unique style in your art.
For this Study Session, I chose an artist whose work challenges our perceptions of space, time, and history: Julie Mehretu.
If YOU want to choose an artist for me to study (living or dead), be sure to comment the name of the artist in the comments below so I can use your feedback for a future Study Session!
Hey there! 👋 I’m Carrie. Here on Artist Strong, I help self-taught artists with home studios who feel stuck with their art move from wondering what’s next to confidently expressing themselves through unique, original art. To date, thousands have joined the community.
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Now, let’s jump into today’s Style Study Session.
I mentioned at the beginning that we will use the 6 qualities of style to discuss the work, but how do you define style and what are these 6 qualities? I have a full video on that I’ve linked for you here and below, but let’s have a short primer:
Style is the unique way in which an artist shares their voice in their art. People often see someone’s work and recognize it as theirs because of their style. It has six qualities, which include:
1. Elements and principles of art
2. Medium and materials
3. Genre
4. Theme
5. Influence
6. Personal experience
(Please note, I keep changing up how I say Mehretu’s name, which you can learn the proper pronunciation of here. My sincere apologies for the inaccuracy).
Elements and Principles of Art
Julie Mehretu’s work is often described as a fusion of abstraction and architectural forms. She uses lines, shapes, and layers to create dynamic compositions that convey movement, chaos, and order all at once.
Mehretu’s line work is delicate yet assertive, with marks that range from fine and precise to broad and gestural. Her use of transparency and layering adds depth to her work, inviting viewers to explore the complexity of her compositions.
The principles of rhythm, balance, and contrast are central to her style, as she navigates the tension between order and disorder in her large-scale canvases.
Medium and Materials
Mehretu works in a variety of media, including ink, acrylic, graphite, and screen printing. Her large-scale paintings often start with digital renderings or architectural plans, which she then overlays with layers of paint and ink.
She builds her compositions through a process of addition and subtraction, erasing and reworking sections of her canvases to create a sense of history and transformation. Her choice of materials allows her to explore both precision and spontaneity, blending the technical with the intuitive in her creative process.
Genre
Mehretu’s work is often categorized as abstract, but it also incorporates elements of mapping, architecture, and cartography. Her paintings blur the boundaries between abstraction and representation, as she deconstructs and reinterprets the visual language of cities, landscapes, and history. While her work does not fit neatly into any one genre, it is often seen as part of a broader tradition of contemporary abstract art that engages with social and political issues.
Two things stand out to me personally. First, I love how she talks about landscapes and in one interview talks about all landscapes being political. I have never thought about the genre and tradition of landscape art quite in this way despite knowing several landscape movements were tied to religion, for example.
Secondly, I’m drawn to her decision to communicate story through abstraction and having a commitment to abstraction as a means to digest her own experiences as well as how we all are processing social-cultural moments in time. For someone who works more concretely and with a level of realism in most of my work, it’s completely inspiring to see how she uses abstraction as a tool and means to convey meaning.
Theme
A central theme in Mehretu’s work is the exploration of space—both physical and conceptual. Her paintings often reference urban landscapes, historical events, and the movement of people across borders. She uses abstraction as a way to address complex themes such as migration, displacement, and the intersection of different cultures. Mehretu’s work invites viewers to consider the ways in which space, time, and identity are interconnected, and how they shape our understanding of the world.
Her process at times has included using images from broadcast and media about social unrest, conflict and injustice but then they are ultimately hidden by her marks, whilst simultaneously helping guide her mark making. In some ways her paintings are a psychological documentation of events.
Influence
Mehretu’s influences are wide-ranging, reflecting her interest in both art history and contemporary culture. She draws inspiration from artists such as Jackson Pollock, with his emphasis on gesture and action, and Kazimir Malevich, with his exploration of pure abstraction.
Her work is also informed by her background in architecture and her interest in the built environment. Additionally, she is influenced by global events and political movements, which she incorporates into her work through references to maps, news imagery, and historical documents.
Personal Experience
Mehretu’s personal experience as a global citizen is deeply embedded in her art. Born in Ethiopia and raised in the United States, she has lived and worked in various parts of the world, and her work reflects this transnational perspective.
Her experiences of migration and displacement are central to her exploration of space and identity. Mehretu’s art is also a reflection of her ongoing engagement with social and political issues, as she uses her work to question and challenge dominant narratives about history and power.
How to Apply This to Your Art
Studying Julie Mehretu’s style can offer valuable insights for your own artistic practice. Start by exploring her use of line and layering—try creating a composition that builds up in layers, erasing and reworking as you go.
Or, consider how you can use abstraction to address themes that are important to you, whether they are personal, political, or conceptual.
Think about how you can incorporate a sense of space and movement into your work, whether through the use of architectural forms, mapping, or other visual references.
When you study an artist and their style, it’s important to consider not just the technical aspects of their work, but also the ideas and influences that drive their creative process. Look at the 6 qualities of style to help you understand how Mehretu’s work is shaped by her materials, her influences, and her experiences, and think about how these elements can inform your own art.
This is the kind of thing I do inside Self-Taught to Self-Confident, where I guide people through filling in any gaps in their skill so they confidently express themselves through unique, original art. We have an entire section dedicated to developing an understanding of our own influences and how to make choices moving forward that reflect our unique vision and voice for our art.
👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽 If that sounds exciting to you, you can learn more when you sign up for my workshop “How to Create Art from Your Imagination” for free. You’ll enjoy a taste of my teaching, learn more about the program, and get a special 7-day enrollment offer when you sign up. Use the link here or in the comments below.
Julie Mehretu is a powerful example of an artist who uses abstraction to engage with complex social and political issues. Her work demonstrates the ways in which style can be both a personal expression and a reflection of the world around us. As you continue to develop your own artistic style, remember that the connections between your work will grow deeper as you consciously use the qualities of style in your art.
👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽 Tell me → what’s one thing you’ve learned about style today that can help your art?
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As always, thanks so much for watching. Remember: proudly call yourself an artist.
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**Sources:**
1. Artist Strong’s 6 Qualities of Style: https://www.artiststrong.com/defining-style-for-an-artist-the-6-qualities-of-style/
2. “Julie Mehretu: A Sense of Place” – PBS: https://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/julie-mehretu
3. Guggenheim Museum, “Julie Mehretu”: https://www.guggenheim.org/artwork/artist/julie-mehretu
4. “Julie Mehretu on Time, Space, and Being ‘Undeniably Black'” – New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/25/arts/design/julie-mehretu-whitney-museum.html
5. “The Architecture of Julie Mehretu’s Paintings” – Architectural Digest: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/julie-mehretu-paintings
6. https://art21.org/watch/extended-play/julie-mehretu-politicized-landscapes-short/
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