“The narratives come together to create this overall picture that you see from the distance, especially in my large canvases,” says Julie Mehretu, describing her paintings. “As you come close to it the big picture completely shatters and there are these numerous small narratives happening.” Ethiopian-born and Harlem-based, Mehretu’s layered works address art, architecture, colonialism, migration. Years ago, she began experimenting with drawing and graphics, employing etching techniques that ranged from drypoint to spit bite. Once her drawings grew larger, she began to paint on canvas, creating the sweeps of saturated color that are now a signature. This exhibition showcases her artistic evolution with 75 drawings, paintings, and prints made from 1996 to today. —E.C.