An Indiana etcher, painter and teacher, George Joseph Mess studied art at Columbia University, the John Herron Art School, the Modern School of Design, Chicago, and at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris. He also received scholarships for further studies at the Louis Tiffany Foundation, New York City.

Along with his brother Gordon, an Indiana Landscape painter, George Jo Mess founded the commercial art business, the Circle Art Company, in downtown Indianapolis.

He married Evelynne Bernloehr Mess (b. 1903), who became an accomplished printmaker in her own right. The two artists founded and taught at the Circle Art Academy from 1927 to 1932.

In1937, George and Evelynne Mess moved to Chicago. George Jo Mess worked as a commercial artist on the staff of both Esquire and Coronet until he returned to Indianapolis in 1940.

Back in Indianapolis, he taught at both the John Herron Art School and the Indianapolis Art League. In 1949, George Jo Mess became professor of art at Indiana University and held that post until his death in 1962.

During his career, George Jo Mess exhibited his fine paintings, etchings and engravings at such institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Chicago Art Institute, as well as at international expositions in Paris, Rome and Stockholm.

Both George and Evelynne were very active in the Indianapolis area, as well as in the Nashville, Indiana art community.

Sources:
artoftheprint.com
Information courtesy of Vince Koers