Jack Pollock

Jackson Henry Pollock (1 August 1930 – 10 December 1992) was an author, painter, art educator and art dealer who was a fixture on the Toronto art scene for over 3 decades. Pollock was the flamboyant founder and owner of The Pollock Gallery in Toronto. He was widely reputed to have a skilled eye for identifying talent in young artists and was instrumental in the careers of many notable artists that he represented including David Hockney, Susan Ross, Ken Danby, Norval Morrisseau, Roy Thomas, Catherine Senitt, Charles Pachter, Robert Bateman and Willem de Kooning.

Pollock graduated from the Ontario College of Art (OCAD) in 1954 and subsequently studied at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art in London, England. Afterwards, he returned to Canada and was employed as a colour consultant for a paint company. Pollock's employment was terminated as he had a psychological breakdown which required hospitalization. During his time in the hospital, Pollock experienced the benefits of art therapy which led him to open the Pollock Gallery in 1960.

In 1962, while teaching art classes in Northern Ontario (funded by the Ontario Government), Pollock met Norval Morrisseau, a local Ojibwa artist. Pollock immediately recognized the artist's genius and arranged for a solo exhibition at his gallery in Toronto. The response was a sold-out show and brilliant reviews declaring Morrisseau a "genius." Morrisseau went on to become arguably one of Canada's most important artists.

In 1966, the National Gallery of Canada acquired a print of Pollock's Remembered Image No.82 for its permanent collection. Pollock had become well respected as an artist despite the overshadowing talent of Morrisseau. Pollock's painting styles were abstract and expressionistic. His later works were highly colorful, simple studies of scenes from his everyday life.

...
Wikipedia