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7 November 2009
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Arty Popstars
They call themselves 'artists', but which pop stars would know one end of a gallery from the other?


1Franz Ferdinand
Franz FerdinandWhile you're all mucking about with finger-painting and clay modelling in the so-called 'art' lessons you get at school, Franz Ferdinand have taken it upon themselves to educate us in the realms of Russian Constructivism (red triangles and straight lines to you and me) and namedropping famous artists. Understandable behaviour, really, as they all attended the Glasgow School of Art. The band met drummer Paul Thompson while he worked as a 'life model' (a nude bloke that art students draw while trying not to giggle), and Alex Kapranos demonstrated his penchant for art students with, "I love your friends, they're all so arty." But most art students are about 19. How old are you again, Mr K?

2Pete Doherty
Pete DohertyWe all know Mr Doherty gets up to some questionable stuff, but painting with your own blood?! Doherty demonstrated his deepest inner-turmoil on us (at a time when we thought he only did supermodels, drugs and Dior) by painting the gory image of a man in a hat, and adding a quote proposing the sale of one's soul to the devil. Do you think he was trying to make some kind of point? On a less gruesome note, he also does all of Babyshambles' artwork, and has been known to use other fluids to create his art. By which we mean ink, you filthy bunch....

3Marilyn Manson
Marilyn MansonManson's art is exactly what we'd expect from him - gooey heads, icky bodies, death 'enjoying the fruits of his labour' and, er, a flower. A watercolour flower! Certainly not the type of art you'd want on your wall, unless your name is Beelzebub and you live in hell. There's probably some deep, important meaning behind it, apart from the flower one, which is just pretty. Even so, it's unlikely he'll be popping in to your granny's watercolour club any time soon.

4Madonna
MadonnaLady Madge has tried her hand at pretty much everything - acting, writing rude photo books, being English, oh yeah, and writing music. So it comes as no surprise that she's also ventured into the world of artistry, writing and illustrating kiddies book The English Roses. In 2001, she also made a prize boob of herself by swearing on live telly while presenting the Turner Art Prize. However, she claimed the outburst was provoked when the producers pleaded with her "not to use profanities." So does that mean that if we say, "Madonna, PLEASE release some terrible records and DON'T be rubbish", reverse psychology will do everyone a favour?

5Ricky Wilson - Kaiser Chiefs
Ricky Wilson  - Kaiser ChiefsBefore he made his living jumping up and down in a blazer and screaming, Ricky used to teach art in Leeds College of Art and Design...while jumping up and down in a blazer and screaming, presumably. In fact, it's tempting to wonder if early drafts of his band's breakthrough hit might have been influenced by his previous job. Especially if any of his pupils were of an ironic frame of mind, but secretive about showing off their work. 'I Predict A Wry Art', anyone?
Laura S
04/11/2005

 


Have your say
Which pop star do you think is dead arty an' that?

kirsty
liz mcclarno is so cool and she has a great fashion sense . buy her single !!!!xxxx

Lucy
Gerard Way from my chemical romance has an art degree and designs their album covers!

me
Marilyn Manson is creepy

Your name:

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