Goldman Sachs Mural 2010

Julie Mehretu’s "Mural (2010)" at Goldman Sachs is simultaneously captivating and frustrating. Located in the Goldman Sachs lobby, visitors are not allowed to see the mural up close. Mehretu’s detailed painting, with clean shapes and abstract narrative, was created with four layers of paint and in a similar style as her other paintings. This mural tells the history of finance and capitalism but reveals the culture of power and wealth of this corporation. In fact, the placement of Mehretu’s mural tells more about the environment and secretive nature of the company, and their lack of relationship to members of the public.