BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Musician and artist John Mellencamp will donate an archived collection of his life and work to Indiana University, IU President Pamela Whitten announced at the Mellencamp Symposium held Friday at IU’s Bloomington campus. The collection includes items related to his iconic artistry, philanthropy, and social activism, and it holds original creative works, photos, instruments, and other significant memorabilia.
“John’s impact on music and American culture is immense,” Whitten said. “I am proud of John’s lifelong association with IU and deeply grateful to him for selecting the university as the permanent home for his archives. His collection will be an incredible resource for arts scholars and a clear source of inspiration for our students. We are thrilled to honor him and celebrate his many contributions to music, art, and IU.”
During the symposium luncheon, Whitten announced that a sculpture honoring Mellencamp’s artistic legacy will be commissioned for the Bloomington campus. The sculpture, funded by a group of donors, will rest near the Fine Arts Plaza on the IU Bloomington campus.
Whitten also said that the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University will partner with Mellencamp to launch an exhibition in the 2023-24 academic year. It will showcase his visual artistic expression and pay tribute to his accomplishments as a contemporary artist. It will serve as a gateway for students to experience and engage with Mellencamp’s original works of art.
More information will be avaialable through the Eskenazi Museum of Art website as plans develop.
