John Martin Socha (1913-1983)

John Martin Socha was a Works Progress Administration (WPA) supported Minnesota artist during the Depression of the 1930s. Well regarded by fellow WPA artists of the time, Socha's works were based on personal interviews with pioneers, as well as his intimate knowledge of the region.

As a teenager, Socha studied in Mexico with world-renowned artist Diego Rivera. Rivera's influence on Socha can be clearly seen in the large murals Socha painted in public buildings throughout Minnesota as part of the WPA program.

Socha's work can be found in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.