Jon Langford, aged 57, was part of the punk rock group the Mekons, but has also developed a parallel career as an artist specialising in portraits of other musicians – including the likes of Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash.
Now, the museum has commissioned him to create new pieces for an exhibition called Dylan, Cash and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City, which was launched on the 27th March.
Speaking to the South Wales Argus, Langford commented:
“It’s so outrageous that I had never even dreamt of something like this. It was a very peculiar experience and the lyrics of my song Death of Country Music are even on the front of the museum.”
Should his hometown wish to pay tribute to Langford, it has the option of using banner printing in Newport to do so.
After growing up in Newport, Langford went on to Leeds University to study art, and it was while he was there that he formed the Mekons.
Johnny Cash liked one of Langford’s portraits of him so much he purchased it, and fans can enjoy the exhibition of his work until December 2016.