Art, literature & historyNumber 23
Jackson Pollock · 1948
Jackson Pollock: 1912–1956
Other names (1)
jackson Pollock
Biography
Paul Jackson Pollock (; January 28, 1912 – August 11, 1956) was an American painter. A major figure in the abstract expressionist movement, he was noted for his "drip technique" of pouring or splashing liquid household paint onto a horizontal surface, enabling him to view and paint his canvases from all angles. It was called all-over painting and action painting, because Pollock covered the entire canvas and used the force of his whole body to paint, often in a frenetic dancing style. This extreme form of abstraction divided critics: some praised the immediacy of the creation, while others derided the random effects.
A reclusive and volatile personality, Pollock struggled with alcoholism for most of his life. In 1945, he married artist Lee Krasner, who became an important influence on his career and on his legacy. Pollock died in August 1956 at age 44 in an alcohol-related single-car collision when he was driving. Four months after his death, Pollock was given a memorial retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. A larger, more comprehensive exhibition of his work was held there in 1967. In 1998 and 1999, Pollock's work was honored with large-scale retrospective exhibitions at MoMA and the Tate Gallery in London.
Wikipedia contributors. Opening excerpt, formatted for reading. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision.
Influenced by
- Salvador Dalíeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Pablo Picassoeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Chaim Soutineeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Yves Tanguyeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- El Grecoeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- David Alfaro Siqueiroseditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Janet Sobeleditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified.
- Thomas Hart Bentoneditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Joan Miróeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- José Clemente Orozcoeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Roberto Mattaeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Paul Cézanneeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Thomas Hart Bentoneditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified. Teaching is recorded separately and does not itself establish artistic influence.
Later influence
- Yoshihara Jirōeditorial inference
Evidence
Read the named influence and its direction; broader schools are not converted to individuals. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Helen Frankenthalerdocumented
Evidence
Pollock’s floor-based pouring and dripping informed Frankenthaler’s painting method. The cited museum text was read and supports this relationship.
- Cy Twomblyeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Kenneth Nolandeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Morris Louiseditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Gerhard Richtereditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Sam Franciseditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified.
- Robert Morriseditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Lee Krasnereditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Franz Klineeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Deborah Browneditorial inference
Evidence
The biography identifies Pollock as an influence on Brown's abstract painting. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
Artworks by year
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Museums & collections
Documented holdings of works attributed to Jackson Pollock. Check the museum’s record for current display information.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art62 recorded works
- National Gallery of Art20 recorded works
- Museum of Modern Art19 recorded works
- Tate6 recorded works
- Art Institute of Chicago5 recorded works
- National Gallery of Australia1 recorded work
- The Cleveland Museum of Art1 recorded work
- University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, IA, US1 recorded work
Sources 9
- Wikidata (CC0)
- National Gallery of Art
- Museum authority country review
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Museum authority country review
- Tate Collection metadata (October 2014 snapshot)
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Expanded artwork research — official museum evidence
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)