Jackson Pollock’s "Mural"

November 19, 2017 – October 28, 2018
East Building, Pod 2 Upper Level

Jackson Pollock, *Mural*, 1943, oil and casein on canvas, 95 5/8 x 237 3/4 in. (242.9 x 603.9 cm), Gift of Peggy Guggenheim, 1959.6, reproduced with permission from the University of Iowa

This exhibition is no longer on view at the National Gallery.

A special installation in the Gallery’s East Building features Mural (1943) by Jackson Pollock, on loan from the University of Iowa Museum of Art. Originally commissioned by Peggy Guggenheim for her New York City townhouse, the early painting is Pollock’s largest work at nearly 20 feet long, and represents a major turning point in the seminal artist’s career and style. Also on view are paintings and works on paper by Pollock from the Gallery’s collection, including Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist) (1950). The installation marks the debut of Mural in Washington, DC.

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Mural, 1943, oil and casein on canvas, 95 5/8 x 237 3/4 in. (242.9 x 603.9 cm), Gift of Peggy Guggenheim, 1959.6, reproduced with permission from the University of Iowa

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Untitled, c. 1950, black ink, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1985.62.2

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Untitled, c. 1939/1942, brush and black ink on wove paper, Leonard R. Stachura Fund, 1985.62.3

This work is created entirely with dripped and splattered black paint against a bone-colored background in this abstract horizontal painting. The left half is a collection of mostly vertical lines above a nest-like patch of crossing lines near the bottom. Many of the vertical lines are spaced apart so only a few overlap, and the lines are marked with splotches that resemble ink blots. To our right, more densely spaced spatters and lightly curving lines combine to create an abstracted face and body of a person. The artist signed and dated the work in black paint in the lower right corner: “Jackson Pollock 51.”

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Number 7, 1951, 1951, enamel on canvas, Gift of the Collectors Committee, 1983.77.1

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Emiliano Sorini, Untitled, 1944/1945 (printed 1967), engraving and drypoint in brown-black on white Italia paper, The William Stamps Farish Fund, 2009.3.1

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Emiliano Sorini, Untitled, 1944/1945 (printed 1967), engraving and drypoint in brown-black on white Italia paper, The William Stamps Farish Fund, 2009.4.2

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Emiliano Sorini, Untitled, 1944/1945 (printed 1967), engraving and drypoint in brown-black on white Italia wove paper, The William Stamps Farish Fund, 2009.4.4

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Emiliano Sorini, Untitled, 1944/1945 (printed 1967), engraving and drypoint in brown-black on white Italia wove paper, The William Stamps Farish Fund, 2009.4.5

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Untitled, c. 1939/1940, graphite and colored pencil on wove paper, Ruth and Jacob Kainen Memorial Acquisition Fund, 2015.11.1

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Untitled, 1951, ink on Japanese paper, Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen, 2012.92.123

Densely spaced lines and splatters in black, white, pale salmon pink, teal, and steel gray crisscross a rectangular cream-colored canvas in this abstract horizontal painting. The lines move in every direction. Most are straight but some curve slightly. The density eases a bit near the edges. Two sets of ghostly white handprints are visible at the upper corners. The artist signed and dated the painting in black paint in the lower left corner: “Jackson Pollock ’50.”

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist), 1950, oil, enamel, and aluminum on canvas, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1976.37.1

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Untitled, c. 1945, pen and black ink on brown paper prepared with yellow gouache, Leonard R. Stachura Fund, 1985.62.4

Jackson Pollock's "Mural"

Jackson Pollock, Ritual, 1953, oil on canvas, Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection

Organization: Organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Pollock, Jackson: American, 1912 - 1956

Press Release

Exhibition Checklist

Exhibition Wall Text

Press Event: In the Tower: Anne Truitt and Jackson Pollock’s “Mural”
Audio, Released: November 14, 2017, (14:47 minutes)