Met Exhibit Aims to Elevate Lee Krasner as Pollock's Equal

But will the art market follow the museum's lead in recognizing Krasner's full artistic legacy?

Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:51pm

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An extreme close-up of shattered glass and glittering fragments, conceptually representing the fragmented legacy of Lee Krasner's art and the art market's struggle to fully recognize her contributions as an Abstract Expressionist.As the art world reconsiders Lee Krasner's place alongside her husband Jackson Pollock, the market's fragmented perception of her work remains a barrier to fully recognizing her pioneering legacy.NYC Today

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's upcoming exhibition, 'Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous,' aims to present the work of Lee Krasner and her husband Jackson Pollock as equals. However, the art market has long undervalued Krasner's contributions, with her auction record sitting at just $11.7 million compared to Pollock's $61.2 million. Experts say the market continues to favor Krasner's most 'digestible' paintings, overlooking her more experimental collages and burnt umber works.

Why it matters

Krasner was a pioneering Abstract Expressionist whose influence on Pollock and the postwar art movement is only now being fully recognized. The Met show could help shift the market's perception of Krasner, but she has faced decades of being overshadowed by the 'drunk genius' myth surrounding her husband.

The details

The Met exhibition will feature 120 works by over 80 lenders, explicitly focusing on Krasner and Pollock 'on their own terms.' However, the art market has been slower to catch up, with Krasner's prices lagging far behind Pollock's. Experts say collectors often seek 'a colorful Krasner under $3 million,' which simply doesn't exist in the current market. Krasner's more experimental works have also been overlooked in favor of her larger, more legible paintings.

  • The Met exhibition 'Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous' is set to open in October 2026.
  • In May 2026, two Krasner paintings will hit the auction block at Christie's, with estimates ranging from $1 million to $2.5 million.

The players

Lee Krasner

A pioneering Abstract Expressionist painter and the wife of Jackson Pollock, whose influence on postwar art is only now being fully recognized.

Jackson Pollock

One of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century, known for his iconic 'drip paintings' and mythologized as the quintessential 'drunk genius' of the Abstract Expressionist movement.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The renowned art museum in New York City that is hosting the upcoming exhibition 'Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous,' which aims to present Krasner and Pollock as equals.

Saara Pritchard

A partner at the art advisory firm Fair Warning, with prior experience at Sotheby's and Christie's, who has commented on the challenges of the Krasner market.

Sarah Friedlander

The deputy chairman of postwar and contemporary art at Christie's auction house, who has noted that Krasner's best works have often traded privately, away from the public auction market.

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What they’re saying

“Good luck.”

— Saara Pritchard, Partner, Fair Warning

“She had a significant voice of her own, and her influence on Pollock and postwar abstraction is only now being fully understood.”

— Sarah Friedlander, Deputy Chairman of Postwar and Contemporary Art, Christie's

What’s next

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The takeaway

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