The Metropolitan Museum of Art is set to unveil a significant exhibition, "Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous," dedicated to the parallel careers and intertwined lives of artists Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock. Opening on October 4, 2026, and running through January 31, 2027, this exhibition marks the first major New York presentation of either artist's work in more than two decades.
The exhibition will feature over 120 works, including paintings and works on paper, drawn from more than 80 lenders across the U.S. and internationally. It aims to introduce Krasner and Pollock's art to a new generation while reassessing their lasting impact on modern and contemporary art.
Krasner and Pollock, who married in 1945, were both emerging artists in New York when they first met in 1942. They lived and worked together in Springs, Long Island, until Pollock's death in 1956. The exhibition will explore their distinct yet connected artistic practices, highlighting Krasner's significant career that continued for nearly three decades after Pollock's passing.
"Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous exemplifies The Met's commitment to reexamining modern art through rigorous scholarship and fresh perspectives," said Max Hollein, Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "By considering each artist on their own terms while also foregrounding their consequential relationship, the exhibition situates Krasner's and Pollock's work within a broader cultural and artistic context."
David Breslin, Leonard A. Lauder Curator in Charge of The Met's Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, stated, "Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous begins with the fundamental premise that these artists are equals, partners in life, giants in the history of art, and revolutionaries who defined what abstraction could be." He added that the exhibition is about "how different artistic directions come from shared terrain."
Brinda Kumar, Associate Curator in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, noted, "The exhibition examines how Krasner and Pollock shared a commitment to testing the possibilities of abstraction—through shifts in scale, material, and form—and how those investigations continued to evolve along distinct trajectories."
The exhibition will be organized into 12 chapters, tracing their lives and work from the 1930s through their later years. It will showcase their differences and interrelations, with some galleries presenting their works together and others independently. Key works to be featured include Krasner's "Composition" (1949) and "The Seasons" (1957), and Pollock's "Stenographic Figure" (1942) and "Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist)" (1950).
Historically, Pollock's fame often overshadowed Krasner's contributions. However, this exhibition seeks to amplify the reevaluation of both artists' practices as crucial to mid-20th-century art innovations. The exhibition builds on The Met's history with both artists, including Pollock's early exhibition there in 1943 and the museum's acquisition of his "Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)" (1950), as well as gifts from Krasner during her lifetime.
An accompanying catalogue, "Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous," will feature new essays and reflections from curators and contemporary artists, further exploring the artists' intertwined lives and enduring resonance.