Number 11, 1952 (painting)

"Blue Poles" also known as "Number 11, 1952" is a striking abstract expressionist painting by the renowned American artist Jackson Pollock. Acquired by the National Gallery of Australia in 1973, this masterpiece has been both admired and contested. Originally titled "Number 11" or "No. 11" upon its creation in 1952, the painting later gained the popular moniker "Blue Poles" a name believed to have been given by Pollock himself.

The acquisition of "Blue Poles" marked a significant event for the National Gallery of Australia, costing A$1.3 million—an unprecedented amount at the time. The purchase, approved by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, incited a fervent public debate. Critics questioned the government's spending priorities and the value of abstract art, while supporters praised it as a bold cultural investment.

Since its inclusion in the National Gallery of Australia's collection, "Blue Poles" has been featured in several prestigious exhibitions. Notably, it was part of a Jackson Pollock retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York from 1998 to 1999 and was showcased at the Royal Academy of Arts' Abstract Expressionism exhibition in London from 2016 to 2017. In 2020, the painting underwent a conservation project during the gallery's temporary closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Today, "Blue Poles" stands as a cornerstone of the National Gallery of Australia's collection. It is celebrated not only for its significance in the abstract expressionist movement of the 1950s but also for its role in Australian cultural history. The painting's current value is estimated to be between A$100 million and A$350 million, underscoring its lasting artistic and financial importance.