Expressionist movement painter Jackson Pollock was born on this day in 1912
During his lifetime, Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety by art lovers around the world
Expressionist movement painter Jackson Pollock was born on this day in 1912
Born on January 28, 1912, in Cody, Wyoming, artist Jackson Pollock studied under Thomas Hart Benton before leaving traditional techniques to explore abstraction expressionism via his splatter and action pieces, which involved pouring paint and other media directly onto canvases. Pollock was both renowned and critiqued for his conventions. He died after driving drunk and crashing into a tree in New York in 1956, at age 44.
An iconic figure in modern art, Jackson Pollock, was born on January 28, 1912, in Cody, Wyoming, United States. Raised in a family that moved frequently across the Southwest, Pollock was introduced to art early on by his older brother, Charles, who was also an artist. This exposure would shape the trajectory of his life, despite Pollock’s struggles with instability and personal challenges.
Pollock’s career flourished in New York City, where he studied under the regionalist painter Thomas Hart Benton at the Art Students League. However, it was in the 1940s that Pollock began to develop his unique artistic voice, influenced by Mexican muralists, Native American art, and Surrealism. He became a key figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement, which was characterized by spontaneous, expressive techniques.
Pollock’s signature style, often referred to as “drip painting”, emerged in the late 1940s. By laying canvases on the floor and using sticks or brushes to drip, splatter, and pour paint, he redefined the concept of painting, making the act itself as significant as the resulting work. This method is epitomized in masterpieces such as No. 5, 1948, which garnered widespread attention and made him a cultural icon.
Despite his artistic success, Pollock’s personal life was tumultuous. He struggled with alcoholism throughout his life and had a volatile marriage to fellow artist Lee Krasner, who played a pivotal role in his career by promoting his work and managing his legacy.
On August 11, 1956, Jackson Pollock tragically died in a car accident in Springs, New York, at the age of 44. At the time, he was grappling with his personal demons, but his groundbreaking work had already secured his place in art history.
Today, Pollock is celebrated as a pioneer of modern art, whose innovative techniques and bold vision transformed the landscape of painting in the 20th century.
By Ken Warren
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