18. Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock is one of those painters whose paintings are so singularly theirs that you cannot mistake them for works by anyone else. Even people who know very little about art will recognize one of Pollock’s drip paintings. He was one of the most important American painters of his era and one of the most influential abstract expressionists ever.
In his personal life, he struggled with alcoholism and he was often regarded as something of a recluse. You know, like all real artists.
In 1956, his alcohol addiction drove him to untimely death as he was driving under the influence when he crashed his car. Another woman who was in the car died, while his mistress, Ruth Kligman survived. In spite of that, his widow made sure his reputation remained unstained and strong for decades to come.