When Johnny was a child, drawing allowed him to escape the chaos of constantly moving around Kentucky and Florida. In the first grade, he was frequently in trouble for “drawing creepy characters like Frankenstein, Dracula and Wolfman.” Since then, his passion has led to the creation of hundreds of works, which have been kept private until recently.
by Castle Fine Art
Art came to me before music and film.
by Johnny Depp
Earlier Paintings, circa 2003
First paintings appeared around the year 2003. In the Vanity Fair March 2004 issue The Rapscallion appearaeda Photography by Annie Leibovitz with Johnny in his France house atelier.
It shows a Vanessa Paradis painting and the Hanging Man, a self portrait.
Paintings mainly show people Johnny Depp admired and some self portraits:
The Vanessa painting was later used as cover for Vanessa Paradis’ album “Divinidylle”.
Bottle of Calon-Ségur wine, started 2006
May 22, 2020, Johnny posted this on his Instagram:
It’s odd, the things that we once gave such pure, intense focus and devotion to for months on end. Then suddenly the wind shifts and off we go on a new tack. And for far too long, these earlier interests or passions sadly fall by the wayside and recede into the vast recesses of some hoarder’s crawlspace in the brain cloaked in heaps of the other things that my skull had no room for…until recently.
I found this painting, which I had started in 2006 … for 14 years I’d never touched the painting – the occasional glance, at best. Yet it somehow always lingered in my mind, this piece of unfinished business.
Even while we are forced to live in the immediate, some strange species of the interrupted passion that has been invested in an object we once focused on awaits our return from far away. I will keep you apprised of the progress! All Love,
JD
So he started this painting in 2006, but never finished it.
“Plates for Parkinson’s” charity campaign, 2009
Never Fear Truth, since December 2021
The Website Never Fear Truth showcases Johnny Depp’s eclectic range of artworks. With prints, jewellery and more, the actor, musician and artist invites his diverse community to share in his creative vision.
Before Johnny Depp established himself in the film and music industries, art was his primary mode of escapism. Throughout his life, the multitalented creative has constantly turned to art for “release” away from the film-camera. Today, the artist retreats to his studio and sanctuary to quietly express himself through painting, sketching, screen printing and more.
Over time, Johnny has created hundreds of paintings that illustrate his path through life; from early portrayals of his mother to more recent emotive works. Whether impasto or collaged, his art is emotion made flesh. It’s the story of his life.
Until recently, Johnny kept his art to himself, his family and closest friends. Forbidding anyone beyond his immediate circle to see what he had painted. Deeply appreciative of the art world, he was reluctant to release his work to the public; wary that others may perceive him as an actor exploiting his success to promote his artwork. But encouraged by others, he overcame his fears. “My paintings surround my life but keeping them to myself limited my creativity. No one should ever limit themselves.”
Friends & Heroes: Debut Collection, 2022
Johnny Depp’s collection Friends & Heroes saw him focus on people he has known well, and who have inspired him as a person. Each image is an intimate reflection of their character in Johnny’s eyes; a portrayal of how they have revealed themselves to him. From his dear friend Keith Richards, who inspired the mannerisms of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, to Bob Dylan, whose creative influence on the artist is seen in his vivid and immortal portrayal by Johnny. Included in this set were: Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Dylan, Al Pacino and Keith Richards. In addition to being hand-signed by the artist, these limited edition artworks are embossed with Johnny Depp’s iconic Bunnyman logo. Framed size 43.7in x 43.7in | 111.0cm x 111.0cm.
Johnny’s debut collection Friends & Heroes is now officially sold out, it was an edition of just
195. Costs for the whole set were 42.400 € / $37,100 / £31,800
Friends & Heroes II, 2023
In 2023, Castle Fine Art released Johnny’s much anticipated second instalment of Friends & Heroes. Included in this set are: Hunter S Thompson, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix and Bob Marley
Each image is an intimate reflection of their character in Johnny’s eyes; a portrayal of how they have revealed themselves to him. Working from photographic references, each image has been stripped back to a simpler and iconic portrayal of the subject, which Johnny has then developed and energised with his characteristic freehand flourishes.
Framed size 43.9in x 43.9in | 111.5cm x 111.5cm, it was an edition of 195.
The price for the set of four was £22,800
Postcard Sets I, Early 2023
via Never Fear Truth
In early 2023, Never Fear Truth released two sets of postcards. One with 10 different artworks by Johnny, and a second one with 9 Black and White photographs of Johnny doing the art. The sets are still available for €17,95 each, so everyone can buy a little bit of Johnny’s art.
Five, July 20, 2023
On the 20th of July, Johnny Depp launched a time-limited edition artwork entitled “Five”. Exclusively available for 13 days only at castlefineart.com and our nationwide galleries, the edition is now closed.
“If the piece resonates with even just one person, this art has purpose.” – Johnny Depp.
Medium: Mixed Media, Silkscreen and Archival Pigment in Colour On 410gsm Somerset Satin Paper, Framed size35.2in x 36.4in | 89.4cm x 92.5cm.
One of us, November 24, 2023
via Never Fear Truth
Taken from an original sketch by Johnny, One Of Us depicts an otherworldly character visiting earth and the possibility that they are already here with us.
A beautiful reminder that our differences don’t divide us. We are all connected.
The Bunnyman Genesis, Dec.13, 2023
In Johnny Depp’s series, The Bunnyman Genesis (2023), an intriguing, silhouetted figure stands before four different, yet parallel, realms in the collection of mixed media prints: ‘Origins’, ‘Cosmic’, ‘Flowers’ and ‘Multiverse’. Layering each composition with varying textures, contrasting blocks of colour and confident mark-making, Depp has developed a body of work which demonstrates his expressive creativity.
Having experimented with The Bunnyman image for years, Depp has now fully envisioned him in this bold new series. Infused with a celestial undertone, the symbolic figure stands resolute, adopting the same pose within each of the artist’s conjured dreamscapes. As if sharing his protagonist’s origin story, Depp gives viewers glimpses of a character who existed in his dreams before arriving in his son’s. Not only an inseparable friend and powerful self-representation of Depp, The Bunnyman is also an icon of his imagination.
Some years ago, Depp saw a sketch of a figure by his son, who’d been unsettled by a nightmare in which he’d appeared. The figure reminded the artist that, decades before, he’d also experienced recurring dreams involving this character. “But that dream kept coming to me, I had it a lot and that’s sort of what The Bunnyman became, is that figure in the dream”. They were connected by this shared night-time vision, but Depp perceived it as more comforting, than haunting: “There he was a benevolent creature, like he was there to warn me in my dream.”
The Bunnyman Genesis
Origins: ‘Origins’ is the foundational artwork in The Bunnyman Genesis. Depicting the first portrayal of the character created by Johnny, the colour of war and love reflects the key traits of The Bunnyman – he is bold, powerful, a guardian warding off evil spirits.
Cosmic: In the artwork ‘Cosmic,’ The Bunnyman embarks on a celestial journey. Seen by Johnny as “powerfully standing with a sword of truth”, in this artwork The Bunnyman stands resolute amongst the galaxies, signifying his role as a universal guardian – and yet he belongs to no single world.
Flowers: Titled ‘Flowers’, this artwork features The Bunnyman within an abstract meadow of poppies. By placing The Bunnyman amongst the same flowers, he symbolises the human capacity to confront nightmares, face our fears and emerge stronger, blooming like poppies, as we journey from the realm of dreams into the light of a new day.
Multiverse: Within the tapestry of ‘Multiverse’, The Bunnyman boldly transcends the boundaries of reality, venturing into the realm of the extraordinary and shifting between the layers of the multiverse, he embodies the spirit of unwavering curiosity and courage.
The set of four costs £16,950.00, Framed size 36.7in x 50.0in | 93.2cm x 127.0cm They are still available
Shirts, January 1, 2024
via Never Fear Truth
Inspired by one of Johnny’s many sketches, I Got A Head Ache is a unisex cotton tee that comes in a relaxed but true-to-size fit.
Postcard Set II, June 17, 2024
via Never Fear Truth
In June 2024, a second postcard Set was released. It’s a set of 7 cards. 3 are with Photographs (reason to be, All is from here 1+2) and 4 are with art from Johnny, sentences or symbols, that mean much to him:
?X
This uneven question mark motif has emerged throughout many of Johnny’s works. The icon’s anonymity allows viewers to draw personal conclusions, and pose their own questions.
LOVE AS LONG AS YOU LIVE
Lifted from a handwritten note by Johnny, this proverb forms the backbone of the artist’s life philosophy.
FIND IT…
Accented with a bold red heart, this quote alludes to love as the foundational source of creativity and joy. It’s a comforting message that reminds us to show ourselves compassion and acknowledge our successes when life seems bleak.
I MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU AND I WILL GO TO SLEEP NOW
A romantic gesture tinged with a refreshing dose of realism.
Tarot, July 18, 2024
Castle Fine Art is proud to announce Tarot, a brand new collection by Johnny Depp. Launching on the 18th July, the new collection is inspired by the centuries-old tradition of tarot cards. By assimilating imagery from tarot decks, Johnny Depp has been able to reflect on different chapters in his own personal journey. Across the artworks he conjures up themes of parenthood, love, relationships and his career, linked by the same thread.
Johnny Deep’s 2024 release, entitled Tarot, draws on tarot’s intriguing iconography. While referencing the ancient deck, the collection is imbued with his own characters and narratives, and imagined in a uniquely symbolic style.
A lover of the supernatural, Depp has long incorporated tarot into his life, exploring the history behind this centuries-old tradition. Using tarot as a vessel for storytelling, Depp riffs on the established card format, reflecting on different chapters in his own personal journey. With themes of parenthood, love, relationships and his career, Depp sees that these four tarot-inspired artworks could in fact “represent in a way, a reading for me that I lived, but also activating all the characters that I’ve played throughout my life”.
This hand-signed framed set includes:
The framed set of four costs £14,950.00 and the Framed size is 34.0in x 50.0in | 86.4cm x 127.0cm. It’s an edition of just 195.
A Bunch of Stuff, October 2024
A Bunch of Stuff has been a deeply personal project for Johnny Depp, and we’re excited to announce its upcoming debut in NYC.
A Bunch of Stuff is a multi-layered immersive exhibition showcasing the artwork of Johnny Depp, for the first time. This multimedia exhibition features large-scale immersive rooms, traditional gallery spaces, and themed retail, guiding you through the different phases of Depp’s life and creative journey, enriched by his own narration.
Opening October 2024, NYC.
Step inside and discover hundreds of never-before-seen artworks, offering a genuine glimpse into Depp’s artistic world. We’re thrilled to explore it with you.
Don’t be bored, create.
