The artwork titled “Galaxy,” created in 1947 by the artist Jackson Pollock, is an exemplar of abstract expressionism within the action painting movement. This piece is made through a mixed technique on canvas with aluminum and measures 86.36 cm in height by 110.49 cm in width. The artwork is part of the collection at the Joslyn Art Museum located in Omaha, NE, in the United States.
The artwork presents a dense and energetic lattice of dripped, splattered, and flung paint, characteristic of Pollock’s revolutionary approach to painting. The chaotic and seemingly random distribution of line, form, and color create a sense of kinetic movement across the canvas. A variety of colors merge and overlap, creating a complex visual tapestry that the viewer may interpret in numerous ways. This work does not depict a scene or object but rather evokes a visceral response, drawing the viewer into the raw emotion and dynamic process of its creation. The interplay of materials and improvisational technique results in a textured surface that adds depth and intensity to the composition. The presence of aluminum paint provides a metallic sheen, adding an industrial feel to the sporadically layered colors, and this choice of material helps to distinguish “Galaxy” from other Pollock pieces.
