I watched the videos of Kara Walker and Julie Mehretu. Both had works of art that I found surpising and moving. Both artists are concerned with making the work, the creative process and the materials used to create the artwork.
Kara Walker’s use of cut paper silhouettes to depict scenes of racial violence, sexuality, and historical trauma is both elegant and jarring. What surprised me most was how such a seemingly simple medium black paper on white walls could evoke such intense emotional and historical weight. Her work forces viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about America’s past, often without any written explanation. The contrast between the visual simplicity and thematic complexity is what makes her art so powerful.
Julie Mehretu surprised me with the complexity and layering in her work. Her paintings are not just visual compositions—they’re built from historical maps, architectural drawings, and gestural marks that create a dynamic, almost chaotic energy. I didn’t expect such a deep fusion of abstraction and political commentary.
