Why'd They Put That In A Museum?
Art. Objects. Museums. Ideas. Questions. What happens when you put things on display and invite people in to look? Have you ever seen art on display and wondered, “Why’d they put that in a museum?” Museum curator Sarah Lees and author Beth Bacon start each conversation with one item, in one specific museum. We explore the object, its history, and the cultural ideas surrounding it. In the end, that object takes on new meaning as listeners discover the fascinating reasons it ended up in a museum.
Why'd They Put That In A Museum?
Jackson Pollock
In this final episode of Season 2, hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees discuss their ongoing topic, “Why did they put that in a museum?” by focusing on an artist who is frequently the subject of this question: Jackson Pollock. They examine his masterpiece 'One: Number 31, 1950' which can be found in New York's Museum of Modern Art. They talk about Pollocks techniques and the community he was part of. They muse about abstract art and its common misconceptions. Sarah explains that Pollock's unique approach to painting, moving the canvas from an easel to the floor, was a conceptual leap in Western art. When you really look at his work, it holds a deep intentionality that counters the complaint, “My 5-year-old could do that.” Beth and Sarah also talk a bit about the artist's turbulent life and his fast rise to art stardom which was hastened by figures like Peggy Guggenheim and influential critics and galleries. Why are Pollock’s seemingly chaotic drips and splatters so important in the history of modern art? Listen to this episode of our podcast to find out.
© 2025 Why'd They Put That In A Museum podcast hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees.
