Most people know John Mellencamp for his hard hitting music and social commentary. Many may not know that John Mellencamp is also an artist, and even fewer know of his support to the arts.

John Mellencamp's paintings, like his music, often exhibit his political views. Many of his paintings are dark and somewhat disturbing, and sometimes include direct political statements. The image posted here is "Skeletons" and was one of the pieces included in a 2005 exhibit at the Indiana University Herron School of Art and Design. John Mellencamp has also published a book of his artwork titled Mellencamp: Paintings and Reflections.

John Mellencamp’s interest in the arts doesn’t end at creating his own paintings. He is also a supporter of the arts. In 1991, John Mellencamp established the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts. The Southern Indiana Center for the Arts is a regional center for the fine, performing, culinary, architectural, literary and artisan arts. According to their website, "It is John's desire that the Art Center not be a Mellencamp thing. He furnishes the house and property with the philosophy that if the region wants an art center, it will support it." The center has one room reserved for John Mellencamp’s paintings.

For more information on John Mellencamp see:

John Mellencamp's official website

Visit the Pop Life Art homepage for a list of more than 100 celebrity artists.