The Black Painting That Set Jackson Pollock's Auction Record
3 min read · 17 Jan 2025
Number 17, 1951. Image courtesy of Sotheby's
Jackson Pollock, Number 17, 1951 (1951) sold for $61.16m at Sotheby's in New York on November 15, 2021. The enamel on canvas work had been traded 17 times in the past.
Originally acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York from Sidney Janis Gallery in 1952, the Jackson Pollock Estate, led by his widow, Lee Krasner, then exchanged his black painting for Autumn Rhythm in 1957. Later owners included Condé Nast supremo, S.I. Newhouse, before Number 17 entered the Macklowe Collection in 1999.
Number 19 1948. Image courtesy of Christie's
The sale beat Pollock’s previous auction record by $2.8m, a 4% rise. The artist's previous record was set by Number 19 1948 (1948), which sold for $58.36m at Christie's on May 15, 2013. The work had been traded 3 times in the past.
Pollock's works are believed to have sold for more privately than at auction. In 2016, billionaire collector Ken Griffin reportedly bought Number 17A (1948) for around $200m from music mogul David Geffen.
A Brief History of Jackson Pollock at Auction
Sale Date | Title | Price | Record Increase | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021-11-15 | Number 17, 1951 | $61.16m | 5 % | Sotheby's | New York |
2013-05-15 | Number 19 1948 | $58.36m | 44 % | Christie's | New York |
2012-11-13 | Number 4 1951 | $40.4m | 75 % | Sotheby's | New York |
2012-05-08 | Number 28 1951 | $23.04m | 119 % | Christie's | New York |
1989-05-02 | Number 8, 1950 | $10.5m | 102 % | Sotheby's | New York |
1988-11-09 | Frieze | $5.2m | 18 % | Christie's | New York |
1988-05-02 | Search | $4.4m | 76 % | Sotheby's | New York |
1987-05-04 | Number 26 1950 | $2.5m | 355 % | Sotheby's | New York |
1980-05-16 | Four opposites | $550,000 | 261 % | Christie's | New York |
1979-12-05 | Painting Number 21 | $152,400 | 118 % | Sotheby's | London |
1970-11-18 | Painting No.23 (Frogman) | $70,000 | 14 % | Sotheby's | New York |
1961-12-06 | Number three | $61,600 | - | Sotheby's | London |
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