Paul Jackson Pollock

Paul Jackson Pollock (1912–1956) was an American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement.

Famously known 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.

Some artist enjoyed his work saying that his work was all the same, no matter where you looked while others said there was no direction to it, gave off random bursts of energy and it being all but a bunch of colours.

One of Pollock’s paintings titled Number 17A was reported to have fetched US$200 million in a private purchase in 2016.

A quiet man by nature, Pollock didn’t really show his emotions physically so he showed them through his art.

It wasn’t until 1945, he married the artist, Lee Krasner, who helped with his alcoholism which he struggled with for most of his life. She became an important role in his career and on his legacy.

In 1956, due to him being drunk while driving, Pollock died at the age of 44.

Four months after his death, Pollock was given a memorial retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.

And in 1967, a larger, more comprehensive exhibition of his work was held at the same place.

In 1998 and 1999, his work was honored with large-scale retrospective exhibitions at MoMA and at The Tate in London.