Bob Dylan is an artist.
Bob Dylan ( [ ˈdɪlən ] born Robert Allen Zimmerman ; May 24 , 1941 ) is an American poetic songwriter , singer , painter , writer , and Nobel prize laureate . Leaving behind his initial base in the American folk music revival , his six-minute single `` Like a Rolling Stone '' , recorded in 1965 , enlarged the range of popular music . His accomplishments as a recording artist and performer have been central to his career , but his songwriting is considered his greatest contribution . Since 1994 , Dylan has published seven books of drawings and paintings , and his work has been exhibited in major art galleries .