Jackson Pollock | Blue poles

The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) is proud to announce an historic moment for the State: Jackson Pollock’s iconic masterpiece Blue poles will be exhibited in Western Australia for the very first time in April 2027.

This extraordinary loan from the National Gallery of Australia through the Sharing the National Collection program marks a major cultural milestone and a rare opportunity for Western Australians to encounter one of the most influential works of modern art.

Painted in 1952, Blue poles is a defining example of Pollock’s radical poured paint technique. Stretching almost five metres across, the work features eight bold blue black vertical forms that anchor a dynamic field of drips, splashes and rhythmic movement.

Created at a pivotal moment in Pollock’s career, it stands as one of his last major abstract paintings and remains a touchstone of 20th century art. When the Australian Government acquired Blue poles in 1973 for $1.3 million, then a record price for an American painting, it ignited national debate about public spending, artistic value and Australia’s cultural ambition.

Today, the painting is regarded as one of the country’s most treasured artworks, valued at more than $500 million and recognised globally as a masterpiece. It is also the most viewed artwork in the National Gallery’s history.

Despite its fame, opportunities to see Blue poles (originally titled Number 11, 1952) outside Canberra have been exceedingly rare. The painting toured Australia in 1974 but never reached Western Australia. Since then, it has travelled only a handful of times, including to MoMA in New York, and the Tate and Royal Academy of Arts in London. More than fifty years after its acquisition, Blue poles has still never been shown in WA, until now.

Bringing Blue poles to AGWA represents a cultural coup for Western Australia and a moment of immense pride for the State. Its presentation will be accompanied by a dynamic program of public events, talks and community engagement activities designed to deepen understanding of Pollock’s legacy and celebrate this remarkable chapter in Australia’s cultural history.