Critics Debate Met's Pollock-Krasner Retrospective at Julius' Roundtable
On September 30, 2026, at Julius' bar in New York, a roundtable was moderated by critic Johanna Fateman, featuring Julia Bryan-Wilson, Jarrett Earnest, and David Rimanelli. They explored the exhibition "Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous," curated by David Breslin and Brinda Kumar at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is the first significant retrospective for either artist in twenty years. Earnest highlighted the exhibition's positive impact on both artists, particularly praising Krasner. Although initially skeptical, Bryan-Wilson acknowledged Krasner's innovative spirit. Rimanelli expressed that the exhibition exceeded his expectations. Their discussion included Krasner's collages, Pollock's drip paintings, and the market dynamics influencing Pollock's popularity, culminating in a debate about the significance of Pollock's earlier works.
Key facts
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition "Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous" was organized by curators David Breslin and Brinda Kumar.
- It is the first major New York show for either Lee Krasner or Jackson Pollock in two decades.
- The roundtable took place at Julius' bar in New York on September 30, 2026, moderated by Johanna Fateman with critics Julia Bryan-Wilson, Jarrett Earnest, and David Rimanelli.
- The exhibition begins with Krasner's 1954–55 collages, including Bald Eagle, made with spattered canvas scraps from Pollock's studio.
- Krasner's mosaic coffee table, her only known collaboration with Pollock, is included in the show.
- The final room features Krasner's 1976 painting Past Continuous alongside Pollock's 1953 Portrait and a Dream.
- Critics discussed the market and ideological forces behind Pollock's fame, with Bryan-Wilson citing Janet Sobel as a precursor to drip painting.
- Bryan-Wilson predicted the exhibition would shift the larger narrative around Krasner, comparing it to the Met's Alice Neel exhibition.
Entities
Artists
- Johanna Fateman
- Julia Bryan-Wilson
- Jarrett Earnest
- David Rimanelli
- Lee Krasner
- Jackson Pollock
- David Breslin
- Brinda Kumar
- Clement Greenberg
- Gregory White Smith
- Merce Cunningham
- John Cage
- Elaine de Kooning
- Willem de Kooning
- Mary Heilmann
- Carl Andre
- Rosalind Krauss
- Rachel Rose
- Max Hollein
- Peggy Guggenheim
- Hans Namuth
- Ad Reinhardt
- Janet Sobel
- Alice Neel
- Jack Whitten
- Howardena Pindell
- Thomas Hart Benton
- Matta
- Masson
- Roger Fry
Institutions
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Julius'
- Betty Parsons Gallery
- Stable Gallery
- Pollock-Krasner Foundation
- Artists Rights Society (ARS)
- October magazine
- Cultured Magazine
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Springs
- San Miguel de Allende
- Mexico
- West 10th Street
- Waverly Place