Jackson Pollock (1912–1956) His drip paintings from 1947 to 1952 with revolutionized abstract expressionism are the most valuable and sought after by collectors, often breaking records in private sales or auctions.

Paul Jackson Pollock was born on January 28, 1912, in Cody, Wyoming, but grew up in Arizona and California. He studied at the Art Students League of New York under Thomas Hart Benton, initially focusing on regionalist and mural painting.

In the 1940s, Pollock developed his signature drip painting technique, where he poured and splattered paint onto canvases laid on the floor. This method, influenced by automatism and Native American sand painting, led to the birth of Abstract Expressionism. His most famous works, such as Number 5, 1948 and Blue Poles (1952), revolutionized modern art.

Pollock gained fame after a 1949 Life magazine article asked, “Is he the greatest living painter in the United States?” However, he struggled with alcoholism, self-doubt, and artistic evolution, shifting toward more structured black-and-white paintings in the early 1950s.

On August 11, 1956, Pollock died in a car crash in East Hampton, New York, while driving under the influence. He was 44.

Pollock remains one of the most influential modern artists, with his drip paintings commanding some of the highest prices in art history. His work continues to shape contemporary abstract art.