Julie Mehretu

Julie Mehretu (born November 28, 1970) is an Ethiopian American contemporary visual artist known for her large-scale, multi-layered abstract paintings that explore urban sociopolitical changes. She was recognized as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2020, and The New York Times has described her as a rare example of a contemporary Black female painter who has already entered the canon.

In October 2023, she broke the auction record for an African artist when her piece "Untitled (2001)" sold for $9.32 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong. Additionally, Mehretu was one of the top ten women artists in contemporary auction sales that year. In October 2024, she donated over two million dollars to The Whitney Museum's "Free 25 and Under" program, offering free admission to young visitors under twenty-five.