Artists & Writers · 20th Century
Jackson Pollock’s Last Words
“Unknown — he died in a drunk driving accident.”— Jackson Pollock, August 11, 1956
Who Was Jackson Pollock?
Jackson Pollock pioneered Abstract Expressionism with his revolutionary drip painting technique. His work Number 31 and Blue Poles transformed American art and made New York the center of the art world.
The Final Moments
Pollock was driving drunk on a country road in Springs, New York, with two women in the car. He lost control and crashed into trees; he and one passenger were killed. He had struggled with alcoholism for years.
Are These Words Verified?
Police and witness reports document the fatal car crash with no last words recorded. Pollock died instantly or very rapidly from the impact, as confirmed by accident investigators.
Sources
- archive Police accident report, August 1956
- newspaper Contemporary newspaper accounts
- biography Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, Jackson Pollock: An American Saga (1989)
Legacy
Pollock's revolutionary technique and the abstract expressionist movement he led changed American art's relationship to European modernism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Jackson Pollock’s last words?
“Unknown — he died in a drunk driving accident.”
How did Jackson Pollock die?
Jackson Pollock died on August 11, 1956 at the age of 44. Cause of death: Car accident (drunk driving).
Were Jackson Pollock’s last words documented?
Police and witness reports document the fatal car crash with no last words recorded. Pollock died instantly or very rapidly from the impact, as confirmed by accident investigators.
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