Mural on Indian Red Ground

"Mural on Indian Red Ground" is a renowned abstract expressionist drip painting by the American artist Jackson Pollock, created in 1950. This striking piece is currently on display at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and is regarded as one of Pollock's greatest works, with an estimated value of approximately $250 million.

The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art amassed its impressive collection during Iran's oil boom in the 1970s, under the guidance of Queen Farah Diba. The museum opened its doors in 1977, but following the 1979 revolution, many of its artworks, including "Mural on Indian Red Ground" were stored away in the museum's basement for nearly three decades. It wasn't until 2005 that the painting was exhibited again, along with other significant pieces from the collection.

The painting is highly valued by the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and was even loaned to Japan in 2012 for an exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, in celebration of Jackson Pollock's 100th birthday. However, when the artwork returned to Iran in May 2012, it faced a complication. Iran's customs service at Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport temporarily seized the painting due to an outstanding debt owed by the Ministry of Culture, which oversees the museum. After more than two weeks, the issue was resolved, and the painting was returned to its rightful place in the museum. In 2010, Christie's had appraised the painting at an impressive $250 million.