On October 28, 2023, the National Center for Art Research held the lecture “Conservation of Modern Art: Jackson Pollock’s Painting” at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, with internationally renowned conservation expert Chris Stavroudis speaking and making a presentation.

Mr. Stavroudis presented two case studies, and the 92 attendees were able to deepen their understanding of the conservation and restoration of modern and contemporary art.

The first case study was Jackson Pollock’s Number 1 (1949), which underwent restoration, viewable by the public, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. The project involved cleaning and restoring Pollock’s action painting using the Modular Cleaning Program (MCP) developed by Mr. Stavroudis.

The second case study involved application of varnish to acrylic paintings by the hyperrealist painter Davis Cone. Research was conducted on varnishing materials and techniques, and a method of adjusting the gloss for uniformity and enhancing the colors of the painting was developed in consultation with the artist.

It is clear that conservation of modern and contemporary art incorporating industrial products will be a significant future challenge in Japan. At this lecture, conservation professionals and members of the general public asked numerous questions, to which Mr. Stavroudis responded thoroughly and thoughtfully.


Toriumi Hidemi (National Center for Art Research)