Blue Poles: Jackson Pollock, Gough Whitlam and the Painting That Changed a Nation

by Tom McIlroy

The captivating story behind the iconic Blue Poles - the painter, the process, the patronage, the politics and the national scandal.

In 1973, Blue Poles, the iconic painting by America's great abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock, was acquired by the Australian government for A$1.4 million. This record-setting price for an artwork sparked a media sensation and controversy both in Australia and the United States.

Blue Jackson Pollock, Gough Whitlam and the painting that changed a nation details how Jackson Pollock rose to fame, the negotiations that led to the artwork's move to the National Gallery of Australia, and the many successes and turbulent turns in between.

This story covers Pollock's entrée into an art circle which included renowned patron Peggy Guggenheim, as well as his relationship with artist Lee Krasner, and the larger-than-life accounts that surrounded his artistic practice - including questions around the creation of Blue Poles.

It was Gough Whitlam's commitment to the arts and cultural capital that would see the painting move to another continent, where the media feasted on stories of its cost and brows were raised over its merit. The value of Blue Poles to the Australian art and museum landscape was yet to be foreseen.

Journalist Tom McIlroy tells a compelling account of one of Australia's most prized paintings, which stirred up many storms from the time of its creation to its placement in the NGA.

'Superb . . . McIlroy is a gifted writer who finds clear lines of storytelling as he unpacks an intricate story . . . Australia has needed this book for a long time' THE AGE

'A terrific book, a must-read for the year' READINGS

'An engaging read and a fine testament to a moment in time that is scandalous and triumphant in equal measure' THE AUSTRALIAN

'Well-crafted and thoroughly absorbing' INSIDE STORY

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2025

About the author

Tom McIlroy is the chief political correspondent for Guardian Australia. He has reported for a range of newspapers in Australia and overseas, including the Australian Financial Review, and his first book, Blue Poles: Jackson Pollock, Gough Whitlam and the Painting that Changed a Nation was released in March.

Reviews

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved reading this book. It has everything for me. I love reading about art and artists lives and I didn’t realise how much I enjoyed reading about the political perspectives. Well written and extremely well researched. I feel like it was the right time for this book, we haven’t had anything like this for a while and people love reading about how art has affected history (well, I do anyway)

[Yaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro to Pollock and his effect on Australian history

[Erin Cook]

I picked this up for the Whitlam stuff, but that's nothing compared to Pollock and Krasner and friends' lives.

[Ellen Ransley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this knowing very little about blue poles, other than the political controversy it triggered, but this book was such a comprehensive insight into the piece of art that “changed the country”. It was so masterfully written and obviously very well researched, making it such an approachable analysis of an incredible artist and his legacy.

[Jonathan Mayweather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem. It's easily accessible for someone who doesn't know much about Pollock or Australian politics, but filled with enough behind-the-scenes kernels that even the most avid follower of Canberra's history will find something for them.
Can't recommend it enough.

[David Allwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the early 50’s in Long Island (USA), iconic abstract expressionist, Jackson Pollack, painted his last great masterpiece, ‘Blue Poles’. In the early 70’s, ‘Pollock’s painting became the most controversial art work in Australia’s history and changed the community’s consciousness of the arts. ‘Blue Poles: Jackson Pollock, Gough Whitlam, and the Painting that Changed a Nation’ by journalist, Tom McIlroy, is the story of this saga. Although this is a fascinating story, the book is less fascinating. Written in two halves, the first section provides a light biography of Pollock. This seems somewhat unnecessary as many other authors have published many other more comprehensive biographies of the artist - this is much better catered to through other sources. The second section deals with the Australian Government’s, driven by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, controversial purchase of the painting for a record $AU1.4 million, and the scandal it subsequently caused. Although this section of the book becomes more interesting, McIlvoy mainly quotes from newspaper coverage and editorials from the time. The journalist author writes as if he were preparing an article for the media, so although interesting, it is slightly dull, periodically repetitive, and largely superficial. This is a shame as the book is no where near as exciting and insightful as the painting itself, or as the actions which made it Australia’s best known work of art.

[Jochem · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Blue Poles — Tom McIlroy (2025)

Brilliant book and a great read. Tom McIlroy finds the perfect balance between focusing on Pollock, the painting itself, Mollison, Krasner and Canberra and its political landscape. I learned so much.
Highly recommended!

[Alan Marr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A controversy from many years ago. Whitlam and Mollison were courageous leaders. I love the painting. the Pollock bio material was very helpful too.

[Chris Freudenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

so interesting - McIlroy has made the period live again.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable. A captivating look at this painting. It adds so much to Lee Krasner's book.

[crgmdws · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good light read. Quite a bit of Pollock history and then some of the politics of the time.

[Lucas Osborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super! Topics around government can sometimes be boring but the author keeps it exciting and interesting. Would have liked some more links between the first and second half of the book.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.66