A self-portrait crafted by Hollywood actor Johnny Depp is now available for purchase. The artwork was created during an intense phase of Depp’s life as he faced legal battles related to his former marriage with Amber Heard.
The self-portrait, dubbed “Five,” began its inception in 2021 within the studio of renowned British illustrator Ralph Steadman and reached completion this year.
“This artwork was born during a time which was, to put it mildly, challenging and tumultuous,” Depp expressed in a video. “When I looked at it, I felt it required something more, some additional details… Thus, I scribbled the number ‘Five’ on it as I was about to dive into the fifth year of chaos.”
Depp and Heard, whom he encountered on the set of “The Rum Diary,” tied the knot in 2015. Barely a year later, Heard applied for divorce.
Their turbulent relationship unravelled publicly during two high-profile trials.
In the preceding year, Depp was granted a significant win by a U.S. jury in a defamation case against Heard, who accused him of physical abuse. Depp emphatically denied assaulting her or any other woman.
Depp suffered a loss in a UK libel case against the Sun newspaper two years prior, which labelled him a “wife beater.” A London High Court judge decreed that Depp had repeatedly abused Heard, excluding him from the “Harry Potter” spin-off series “Fantastic Beasts.”
Depp revealed that “Five” was inspired by a photo of him in 2015 when he became the face of a Dior menswear perfume. Despite the tumultuous times, Dior stood by him, a fact that Depp commended in his video.
“Five” adds to Depp’s “Friends & Heroes” series – a collection of portraits featuring figures such as Elizabeth Taylor, Al Pacino, Bob Dylan, and Keith Richards – sold through Castle Fine Art, a UK network of retail art galleries.
The self-portrait is a time-limited edition, priced at $1,950 and available for purchase for 13 days. Depp declared that $200 from each sale would be contributed to the non-profit organization Mental Health America.
This self-portrait serves as an artistic expression of Depp’s tumultuous past. It aims to aid in the battle against mental health issues, with a portion of its sales allocated to Mental Health America. Whether it’s Depp’s loyal fan base, art collectors, or mental health advocates, “Five” offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of this iconic actor’s journey while contributing to a noble cause.
