Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956

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Jackson Pollock was born in 1912, in Cody, Wyoming, the youngest of five sons. His family moved several times during his childhood, finally settling in Los Angeles. In 1930 he joined his older brother, Charles, in New York City, and studied with Regionalist painter Thomas Hart Benton at the Art Students League of New York. Pollock worked during the 1930s for the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project. During 1936 he worked in artist David Alfaro Siqueiros's Experimental Workshop. In 1938 he began psychiatric treatment for alcoholism, and his artwork was greatly influenced by Jungian analysis and the exploration of unconscious symbolism. In 1943 Pollock had his first one-man exhibition at Peggy Guggenheim's New York gallery, Art of this Century, and continued to exhibit there over the next several years. A major turning point in Pollock's life and art was in 1945 when he married fellow artist Lee Krasner and moved to East Hampton, Long Island. There he developed his mature painting style, and became famous for his abstract pouring technique on large canvases. The height of his creativity spanned from 1947 to 1952, and his work was promoted by art critic Clement Greenberg. Along with other abstract expressionists including Hans Hofmann, Alfonso Ossorio, and Barnett Newman, he joined the Betty Parsons Gallery in 1947. He had his most successful one-man show in 1950 which was widely publicized and praised. This exhibition, combined with a 1949 feature article in LIFE magazine, made Pollock an American celebrity. In 1952 Pollock moved his work to Sidney Janis Gallery and returned to earlier motifs in a search for new breakthroughs. The last few years of his life he suffered from mental and physical health problems, and in August, 1956 he died in a car accident. His wife, Lee Krasner, oversaw his estate and worked with many museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, on Pollock retrospective exhibitions. Lee Krasner was born Lenore Krassner in 1908 in Brooklyn, New York to Russian immigrant parents. In 1926 she was admitted to the Women's Art School of The Cooper Union, and in 1928 she attended the Art Students League. After graduating from The Cooper Union in 1929, she attended the National Academy of Design until 1932. After briefly attending City College and Greenwich House, she worked for the Public Works of Art Project and the Temporary Emergency Relief Administration, and finally became an assistant in 1935 on the WPA Federal Art Project, Mural Division. From 1937 to 1940 she studied at the Hans Hofmann School of Fine Arts and began exhibiting with the American Abstract Artists group. In 1942 Krasner met Pollock as they were both preparing to exhibit work in the same show. Although they married and she became immersed in his career, she continued to exhibit her own work with other abstract artists and from 1946 to 1949 worked on the Little Image painting series. In 1953 she began working on collages, a medium she would come back to again later in her career. After Pollock's death her work was greatly influence by her sadness and anger, creating a visible evolution of her style. For the rest of her career, Krasner consistently exhibited her work in both group and solo exhibitions. She had her first retrospective at Whitechapel Gallery, London, in 1965, and in 1966, she joined Marlborough Gallery, New York which represented Pollock's work as well. In the 1970s and early 1980s Krasner won many awards for her achievement in the visual arts, including the Augustus St. Gaudens Medal and the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. She returned to the medium of collage, and in 1976 joined the Pace Gallery, New York. In 1981 she joined the Robert Miller Gallery, New York. Lee Krasner continued creating art until her death in 1984.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Peter Blake Papers, 1943-1979 Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Blake, Peter, 1920-2006. Peter Blake papers, 1943-1979. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
creatorOf William and Ethel Baziotes papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Barbara Rose papers, 1940-1993 (bulk 1960-1985). Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn American Federation of Arts records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Barbara Rose papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Reuben Kadish papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Alexander Brook papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956. Autograph letters (13), typed letters (2), and autograph postal cards (4), all but one signed : various places, including Los Angeles, Kansas City, and New York, to his brothers Charles Cecil Pollock, Frank Leslie Pollock, and Marvin Jay Pollock ; his mother, Stella May McClure Pollock ; his sister-in-law Alma ; and "Becky", 1929-1947. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Louis Bunce papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Jackson Pollock. 1967 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956. [Jackson Pollock : International Art & Artists File]. Libraries Australia
referencedIn Clement Greenberg papers, 1928-1995 Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Rasmussen, Waldo. Oral history, 1994. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Hans Namuth photographs and papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Bertha Schaefer papers and gallery records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956. Jackson Pollock : artist file : study photographs and reproductions of works of art with accompanying documentation 1930?-1990 [graphic] [compiled by staff of The Museum of Modern Art, New York]. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
referencedIn Pollock, Jackson : Biographical file. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
creatorOf Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Pat Lipsky papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Alfieri, Bruno. L'arte moderna : a short talk on the pictures of Jackson Pollock / by Bruno Alfieri. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956. [Jackson Pollock] : artist file John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library, Ringling Museum Library
creatorOf Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Kaprow, Allan. Allan Kaprow papers, ca. 1940-1997. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Herbert Matter papers, ca. 1937-1984 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Whitney Museum of American Art artists' files and records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Blake, Peter, 1920-2006. Peter Blake architectural records and papers, 1910-2006 (bulk 1980-2002). Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Charles Pollock papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Costantino Nivola papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Clark, T. J. (Timothy J.). Jackson Pollock's Number 1, 1949 [sound recording] / [lecture by T. J. Clark; sponsored by the Getty Research Institute]. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Rudi Blesh papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Peter Blake architectural records and papers, 1910-2006, (bulk 1980-2002) Columbia University. Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library. Department of Drawings and Archives.
creatorOf Arts Club of Chicago. Arts Club records, 1892-1995. Newberry Library
referencedIn Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Reuben Kadish papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Ethel Schwabacher papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Rosenberg, Harold, 1906-1978. Harold Rosenberg Papers, 1923-1984. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Leen, Nina, 1909-. [The Irascibles] [graphic] / Nina Leen. Archives of American Art
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Jackson Pollock, drawing into painting. 1980: Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Reginald R. Isaacs papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Alfonso Ossorio papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Lee Krasner Interviews by Ruth Appelhof, 1974 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Mougenot, Dominique, 19..-...., réalisateur. Pollock : portrait d'artiste / Dominique Mougenot, réal. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Barbara Rose papers, 1940-1993, bulk 1960-1985 Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Varnedoe, Kirk, 1946-2003. Kirk Varnedoe papers, 1890-2006 (bulk 1970-2003) Getty Research Institute
referencedIn O'Hara, Frank. Frank O'Hara papers, 1956-1966. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn Krasner, Lee, 1908-1984. Reminiscences of Lee Krasner : oral history, 1978. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). [Photocopies of articles and essays on Jackson Pollock, compiled in preparation for the exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art in 1998-1999]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Mougenot, Dominique, 19..-...., réalisateur. Pollock : portrait d'artiste / Dominique Mougenot, réal. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Jackson Pollock. 1998-1999 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Hartigan, Grace,. Oral history interview, 1975. Maryland historical society
referencedIn Herbert Matter papers, ca. 1937-1984 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Whitlam, Gough, 1916-. Blue poles comes home : National Gallery of Australia, 21 July 1999 / Hon. E.G. Whitlam, AC, QC. Libraries Australia
referencedIn The Dorathy Bruce Farr papers, 1965-1989 Willamette University Archives and Special Collections
creatorOf Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Matter, Herbert, 1907-1984. Herbert Matter papers, circa 1937-1984. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn James Brooks and Charlotte Park papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn American Abstract Artists records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Allan Kaprow papers, 1940-1997 Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Greenberg, Clement, 1909-1994. Clement Greenberg papers, 1928-1995. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn David Novros papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Papers of Alfonso Ossorio and Edward Dragon Young, 1902-2000 Harvard Art Museums. Archives
referencedIn Harry Bowden papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Righter, James V. (James Volney). Illustrated journal/sketchbook, 1998 April 15-1999 Jan. 29. Boston Athenaeum
referencedIn Betty Parsons Gallery records and personal papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Harold Rosenberg papers, 1923-1984 Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Cleve Gray papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Jackson Pollock letter Archives of American Art
referencedIn Thomas Hart Benton papers Archives of American Art
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with George McNeil Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with James Lechay Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Salvatore Scarpitta Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with William Kienbusch Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Tom Robbins Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Esteban Vicente Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with George McNeil Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Robert Beverly Hale Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Robert Beverly Hale Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Don Freeman Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Henry Strater Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Hans Namuth Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Buffie Johnson Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Henry Tyler Hopkins Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Holger Cahill Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Alison Knowles Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with James Brooks Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Dorothy C. Miller Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Helen Frankenthaler Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Alfonso Ossorio Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Peter Agostini Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Albert Christ-Janer Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Harold Lehman Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview wih Clara Diament Sujo Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Reuben Kadish Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Lee Krasner Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Harold Rosenberg Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Lee Krasner Archives of American Art
referencedIn Jack Greenbaum scrapbook and interviews Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Thomas Hart Benton Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Agostini, Peter person
associatedWith Alfieri, Bruno. person
associatedWith American Federation of Arts. corporateBody
associatedWith Appelhof, Ruth. person
associatedWith Arts Club of Chicago. corporateBody
associatedWith Baziotes, William, 1912-1963. person
associatedWith Benton, Rita P. person
associatedWith Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975, person
associatedWith Betty Parsons Gallery. corporateBody
associatedWith Blake, Peter person
associatedWith Blake, Peter, 1920-2006. person
associatedWith Blesh, Rudi, 1899-1985. person
associatedWith Bowden, Harry, 1907-1965. person
associatedWith Bowman, Ruth, 1923- person
associatedWith Brook, Alexander, 1898-1980. person
associatedWith Brooks, James, 1906- person
associatedWith Brooks, James, 1906- person
associatedWith Bunce, Louis, 1907-1983. person
associatedWith Burkhardt, Rudy person
associatedWith Burkhardt, Rudy. person
associatedWith Cahill, Holger, 1887-1960 person
associatedWith Cavaliere, Barbara. person
associatedWith Christ-Janer, Albert, 1910-1973, person
associatedWith Davis, Bill person
associatedWith Davis, Bill, person
associatedWith Dehner, Dorothy, 1901- person
associatedWith De Kooning, Willem, 1904- person
associatedWith Diament Sujo, Clara person
associatedWith Eames, Ray person
associatedWith Eames, Ray. person
correspondedWith Edward Dragon Young, 1921-2011 person
associatedWith Farr, Dorathy Bruce person
associatedWith Forge, Andrew person
associatedWith Forge, Andrew. person
associatedWith Frankenthaler, Helen, 1928-2011 person
associatedWith Freeman, Don. person
associatedWith Freeman, Don, 1908-1978, person
associatedWith Friedman, B. H. (Bernard Harper), 1926- person
associatedWith Glaser, Jane R. person
associatedWith Gray, Cleve person
associatedWith Gray, Cleve. person
associatedWith Greenbaum, Jack. person
associatedWith Greenberg, Clement, 1909-1994. person
associatedWith Gruen, John. person
associatedWith Hale, Robert Beverly, 1901-1985 person
associatedWith Hartigan, Grace, person
associatedWith Holmes, Doloris. person
associatedWith Hopkins, Henry, 1928- person
associatedWith Isaacs, Reginald R., 1911-1986. person
associatedWith Janis, Sidney, 1896-1989. person
associatedWith Johnson, Buffie person
associatedWith Johnson, Philip, 1906- person
associatedWith Kadish, Reuben, 1913- person
associatedWith Kaprow, Allan. person
associatedWith Kienbusch, William, 1914-1980, person
associatedWith Knowles, Alison, 1933- person
associatedWith Krasner, Lee, 1908-1984. person
associatedWith Lechay, James person
associatedWith Leen, Nina, 1909- person
associatedWith Lehman, Harold, 1913- person
associatedWith Lipsky, Pat, 1941- person
associatedWith Maddox, Charles person
associatedWith Maddox, Charles. person
associatedWith Martha Jackson Gallery. corporateBody
associatedWith Matter, Herbert, 1907-1984. person
associatedWith Matter, Mercedes person
associatedWith Matter, Mercedes. person
associatedWith McCoy, Sanford, Mrs. person
associatedWith McCoy, Sanford, Mrs. person
associatedWith McNeil, George, 1908-1995 person
associatedWith Miller, Daniel person
associatedWith Miller, Daniel. person
associatedWith Miller, Dorothy Canning, 1904-2003 person
associatedWith Miller, Robert, 1932 Apr. 17- person
associatedWith Motherwell, Robert. person
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Namuth, Hans. person
associatedWith Nivola, Costantino, 1911-1988. person
associatedWith Novros, David, 1941- person
associatedWith O'Hara, Frank. person
associatedWith Ossorio, Alfonso, 1916- person
associatedWith Parsons, Betty. person
associatedWith Pollock, Alma. person
associatedWith Pollock, Charles C. person
associatedWith Pollock, Charles Cecil. person
associatedWith Pollock, Frank Leslie. person
associatedWith Pollock, Marvin Jay. person
associatedWith Pollock, Stella McClure. person
associatedWith Rasmussen, Waldo. person
associatedWith Reuben Kadish person
associatedWith Righter, James V. (James Volney) person
associatedWith Robbins, Tom, person
associatedWith Rose, Barbara person
associatedWith Rose, Barbara. person
associatedWith Rosenberg, Harold, 1906-1978 person
associatedWith Rouche, Burton person
associatedWith Rouche, Burton. person
associatedWith Scarpitta, Salvatore, 1919- person
associatedWith Schaefer, Bertha, 1895-1971. person
associatedWith Schwabacher, Ethel, 1903-1984. person
associatedWith Smith, Tony, 1912-1980. person
associatedWith Still, Clyfford, 1904- person
associatedWith Thaw, Eugene Victor, person
associatedWith The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Tolegian, Manuel J. (Manuel Jerair), 1911-1983. person
associatedWith Valliere, James person
associatedWith Valliere, James person
associatedWith Varnedoe, Kirk, 1946-2003. person
associatedWith Vicente, Esteban, 1903- person
associatedWith Wasserman, Tamara E. person
associatedWith Whitlam, Gough, 1916- person
associatedWith Whitney Museum of American Art. corporateBody
associatedWith Wright, William person
associatedWith Wright, William person
associatedWith Zogbaum, Wilfrid, 1915-1965. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York NY US
Cody WY US
Springs (N.Y.) US
Subject
Abstract expressionism
Art, American
Art
Art
Painters
Painters
Painting, Modern
Women artists
Occupation
Artists
Painter
Activity

Person

Birth 1912-01-28

Death 1956-08-11

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 9769098