To a Violent Grave: An Oral Biography of Jackson Pollock

by Jeffrey Potter

In a thousand dazzling images conjured by his immediate family and closest friends, Jackson Pollock, the spectacularly self-destructive and gifted American painter, comes to life in this fascinating oral biography assembled and written by his friend and East Hampton neighbor, Jeffrey Potter. The dramatic narrative of Pollock's violent death, told by those who were on the scene, from farmers and policemen to coroners and lovers, is gripping in its immediacy. To a Violent Grave reveals a man living a life that mirrored his art. Jackson Pollock--powerful, colorful, contradictory, brilliant--was an explosion that rocked and changed forever all he touched.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Biography

303 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem of a book. Quotes from artists, collectors, and critics are illuminating - more so as the book progresses to its climax in the final chapter, which brilliantly sums up Pollock's impact on art, culture, and the way we see things. The section of recollections from neighbors on Long Island allow us to understand how the entire modern art movement was perceived by outsiders at the time and what Pollock was up against. A surprisingly beautifully organized and intimate collection of memories and opinions that, even more than the wonderful Naifeh and Smith biography, helped me to appreciate the scope of Pollock's genius and his place in the world.

[R.Friend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly intimate format--the collection of interwoven thoughts and recollections immediately puts you in the room with the people who were there; the people who witnessed the rise and fall of Jackson Pollock. Just an absolutely fascinating book for anyone with even a passing interest in Pollock's tragic life.

[Petri De Schepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most clever biography of my all time favourite artist Jackson Pollock!