Self-Portrait

1936

Jackson Pollock in Siqueiros’s workshop

The young Jackson Pollock attended the workshop and helped build floats for the May Day parade. Siqueiros has been credited with teaching Pollock the drip and pour techniques that later resulted in his all-over paintings of 1947–1950.

1936

Guest of honour at the “Contemporary Arts” exhibition in New York

In 1936 in New York Siqueiros was the guest of honour at the “Contemporary Arts” exhibition at the St. Regis gallery.

1936–1937

The Siqueiros Experimental Workshop in New York

In 1936 Siqueiros ran a political art workshop in New York, the Siqueiros Experimental Workshop, which produced floats, posters and other ephemeral works for the CPUSA and other anti-fascist organisations in preparation for the General Strike for Peace and the May Day parade. The workshop lasted a little over a year, until he left for the Spanish Civil War in April 1937.

c. 1937

Angélica Arenal: his partner since the Spanish war

Since the Spanish Civil War Siqueiros’s partner was Angélica Arenal Bastar (1909–1989), who remained with him until his death.

from April 1937 until 1938

On the fronts of the Spanish Civil War

In April 1937 Siqueiros went to Spain to support the Spanish Republic against Franco’s forces with his art, but volunteered and served in frontline combat as a lieutenant colonel in the Army of the Republic through 1938, before returning to Mexico City.