Grey Space 

Julie Mehretu created this untitled work, Grey Space, in a style that's come to be known as ‘global abstraction.’ Mehretu, born in Ethiopia and raised in America, pulls from a range of sources. Her work suggests city maps, architectural plans, and even historical diagrams. In the late 90s and early 2000s, the art world became increasingly interested in works that spoke to globalization, and to our increasing sense of mobility. Mehretu’s works are abstract, but they hint at global networks and flows of capital. Do they celebrate this new global order, or critique it? I think it’s up for debate. What’s clear is that Mehretu’s paintings reflect the experiences of a generation that came of age in a rapidly changing world. As art historians, we can look at how the art market, museums, and biennials began to promote artists like Mehretu. By researching these institutions and the global economy we can learn a lot about the cultural meanings of art.