Pollock-Krasner Foundation

Overview

Established in 1985 through the generosity and estate of Lee Krasner—one of the foremost Abstract Expressionist painters of the 20th century and widow of Jackson Pollock—the Pollock-Krasner Foundation is a major international funding organization based in New York, USA. Operating for four decades, the Foundation is an industry leader in providing direct financial resources to working visual artists worldwide. To date, the Foundation has awarded over 5,200 grants to professional artists and organizations across 80 countries, totaling more than $95 million USD in funding.

Mission

The Pollock-Krasner Foundation aims to provide unrestricted financial support directly to professional visual artists to allow them the time, space, and freedom to create new work, prepare for exhibitions, acquire supplies, rent studio space, and cover living expenses. Grounded in honoring the legacies of Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock, the Foundation seeks to recognize artistic excellence, foster long-term career stability for established painters, sculptors, and printmakers, and support organizational exhibitions and academic scholarship.

Programs / Opportunities

• Individual Artist Grants (Rolling Open Call): Unrestricted, substantial monetary grants awarded directly to professional visual artists worldwide (applications accepted year-round on a rolling basis with a 9-to-12-month review process).
• Lee Krasner Award (By Nomination Only): A prestigious lifetime achievement award presented to distinguished, senior visual artists in recognition of significant long-term contributions to the visual arts.
• The Pollock Prize for Creativity (By Nomination Only): An annual award honoring an outstanding contemporary artist whose work exemplifies high creative standards and demonstrates a powerful impact on individuals and society.
• Organization Grants (By Nomination Only): Direct funding provided to museums, non-profit galleries, and artist residency programs that showcase Pollock-Krasner grantees or advance scholarship on Krasner and Pollock.

Target Community

• Professional Visual Artists: Established, mid-career, or senior artists working primarily in painting, sculpture, printmaking, and works on paper with an active exhibition history (minimum of 10 professional gallery/museum exhibitions within the past 10 years). Note: Students, PhD candidates, and artists working primarily in photography, video, film, performance art, craft, commercial art, or generative AI are ineligible.