Paul Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) is a key figure in the abstract-expressionist movement of the early 20th Century, and remains to this day one of the most influential of the American Modern artists. His brief career of some 25 years demonstrated an agile, adaptable and pioneering genius. Described as “the jeans-clad, chain-smoking poster boy of abstract expressionism”, his style underwent numerous major changes throughout his lifetime; finding its feet in the Regionalist and Muralist styles of his early tutelage, exploring the possibilities of the cubist, the surreal, the figurative and the abstract, before arriving finally at the technique and style for which he is most famous; his drip paintings. These captivated and excited his contemporaries, but have also since, through academic study, been shown to possess an intelligence and technique that was far ahead of his time. Plagued throughout his life by problems of alcoholism and depression, Pollock’s artwork reflects not only his artistic development, but also the transition between his states of mind, giving his oeuvre yet another fascinating dimension. Dying tragically in an alcohol-related accident in 1956, Pollock was considered by his contemporaries to be “the greatest living painter in the United States”, and continues to enjoy a legacy that hails him as a visionary and pioneering figure in Modern art.

Art Bios compiles biographies of modern and contemporary artists, providing comprehensive information on the general background, artistic vision and development of both renowned and lesser-known artists. Biographies on the former group are approximately three thousand words long, whereas those on the latter are about half that size.

Art Bios also publishes biographies about influential figures in the art world, such as directors of institutions (museums, galleries, auction houses, foundations etc.), important collectors or art dealers. Additionally, Art Bios proposes in-depth articles on institutions including auction houses, museums, art foundations and galleries.

Clients are free to suggest or request biographies in the Art Bios dropbox. Art Bios biographies can be read by all users of our website and licences are available for the reuse of our texts in other contexts. In addition to the biographies, we publish short accompanying résumés consisting of two or three paragraphs — ideal for clients in need of shorter, less detailed texts.