Post Reports The hunt for a stolen Jackson Pollock painting
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Jan 10, 2026 Decades after a Pollock painting was stolen, Merry White embarks on a deeply personal quest to recover it. The narrative delves into her childhood memories tied to the artwork and the emotional turmoil that ensued for her family. Art critic Sebastian Smee explores Pollock's unique techniques and his friendships, revealing how rising valuations made his works targets for thieves. Intriguingly, the story also discusses the recovery of one painting while another remains missing, highlighting a family's enduring connection to art and its legacy.
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Personal Shock At Seeing A Childhood Pollock
- Mary White collapsed on the gallery floor when she recognized No. 7, 1951 because it had hung over her bed as a child.
- The painting triggered complicated memories of family visits to Jackson Pollock's volatile home.
Paintings As Traces Of Performance
- Pollock's drip paintings act as physical traces of the artist's whole-body performance and creative action.
- Treating a canvas as an 'arena' links artistic process to the idea of forensic traces left by actions.
Friendship Born On The Sand Flats
- Reginald Isaacs met Pollock by chance while digging for clams and began buying paintings directly from him.
- Isaacs paid in small installments and acquired many works, at one point even owning Lavender Mist.