Visiting The Met? The Temple of Dendur will be closed Sunday, April 27 through Friday, May 9. The Met Fifth Avenue will be closed Monday, May 5.

Learn more
ticketsMember | Make a donation
The Artist Project

The Artist Project: Julie Mehretu

Artist Julie Mehretu reflects on Velázquez's Juan de Pareja in this episode of The Artist Project.
From March 2015 to June 2016, we invited 120 artists—local, national, and global—to choose individual works of art or galleries that sparked their imaginations. In this online series, artists reflect on what art is, what inspires them from across 5,000 years of art, and in so doing, they reveal the power of a museum and The Met.

"Looking at his expression I’m moved, almost to tears. That’s not often that a painting can do that."

Artist Julie Mehretu reflects on Velázquez's portrait "Juan de Pareja" in this episode of The Artist Project—an online series in which artists respond to works of art in The Met collection.

About the Artist
Julie Mehretu, born in 1970 in Addis Ababa, is an abstract painter and printmaker.

More from The Artist Project

View all

Laura McPhee on Pieter Bruegel the Elder's "The Harvesters"
Video
The Artist Project: Laura McPhee
Artist Laura McPhee reflects on Pieter Bruegel the Elder's The Harvesters in this episode of The Artist Project.
February 29, 2016
Lee Mingwei on Chinese ceremonial robes
Video
The Artist Project: Lee Mingwei
Artist Lee Mingwei reflects on Chinese ceremonial robes in this episode of The Artist Project.
February 29, 2016
Lee Ufan reflects on the Moon Jar
Video
The Artist Project: Lee Ufan
Artist Lee Ufan reflects on the Moon Jar in this episode of The Artist Project.
February 29, 2016

Art Mentioned

A slider containing 1 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Juan de Pareja (ca. 1608–1670), Velázquez (Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez) Spanish, Oil on canvas
Juan de Pareja (ca. 1608–1670)
Velázquez (Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez)
1650