Jackson Pollock, born January 28, 1912, in Cody, Wyoming, was a pivotal figure in American art, renowned for his role in the Abstract Expressionist movement. His innovative "drip" painting technique revolutionized modern art, emphasizing spontaneity, physicality, and emotional intensity. Raised in a family of five boys, Pollock grew up in Arizona and California, exposed to Native American culture and vast landscapes that later influenced his work. His early life was marked by restlessness and a search for identity, which carried into his artistic career.