Julie Mehretu's exhibition "Our Days, Like a Shadow (a non-abiding hauntology)" opens at Marian Goodman Gallery in New York from April 14 to June 6, 2026. The show spans three floors with three distinct bodies of work: paintings, drawings, and hybrid paintings/sculptures created in collaboration with sculptor Nairy Baghramian, all produced between 2023 and 2026. The installation encourages slow viewing and meandering, with works including the "Black Paintings" series, pen-and-ink drawings, and pieces like "Black Monolith" (2024–26), which pays homage to Jack Whitten. Mehretu's recent shift involves masking ground layers with manipulated media photographs of societal upheavals and natural disasters, embedding her markings within chromatic blurs.
This exhibition matters because it showcases a significant evolution in Mehretu's practice, moving from layered cartographic and architectural references toward a more liminal, chromatic approach that addresses political violence and natural disasters. The collaboration with Nairy Baghramian and the inclusion of dance responses by John Jasperse highlight interdisciplinary dialogue. As one of the most influential contemporary artists, Mehretu's new works—particularly the "Black Paintings" with their interference inks and mica-based pigments—demonstrate her continued innovation in abstract painting, making this a landmark show for understanding current directions in contemporary art.