Blue Poles

Jackson Pollock anchored this chaotic composition with eight vertical blue "poles" that march across the canvas, creating a structure beneath the dripped paint. Glass fragments embedded in the surface catch the light, adding texture to the already complex layers of enamel and aluminum paint.

Australia's 1973 purchase of the painting for $2 million caused national controversy, then a record price for a contemporary American painting. The investment proved visionary; Blue Poles is now valued in the hundreds of millions and has become an Australian cultural icon. The poles were reportedly added after an all-night session with fellow artists.

It is a centerpiece of the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.