The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen will host Julie Mehretu: Ensemble, the first major solo exhibition in Germany by Ethiopian American artist Julie Mehretu, from May 10th to Ocnober 12th, 2025 at K21 in Düsseldorf. Widely regarded as one of today’s most influential painters, Mehretu is known for her large-scale, abstract compositions that reflect political and historical complexities. This exhibition spans her career, presenting works from her early urban-inspired line drawings of the 1990s to her more recent, expansive abstract paintings.
The show also includes an exclusive display of Mehretu’s image archive, revealing the media images of political events and historical sites that form the foundation of her compositions. These images offer insight into Mehretu’s creative process, showing how she translates real-world events into layered, abstract narratives through overpainting and masking. Co-organized with the Pinault Collection and in partnership with the BMW Group, the exhibition at K21 coincides with Julie Mehretu: Ensemble at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice.
Be sure to catch our conversation with Julie in the FW24 issue—order your copy today!
