Johnny Depp self portrait ‘Five’ exclusively on show at Mailbox, Birmingham

Acclaimed actor, musician and artist Johnny Depp has unveiled ‘Five’, his debut self-portrait, which is on show at an art gallery in Mailbox in Birmingham city centre.

The painting was conceived in the studio of his close friend Ralph Steadman in 2021 as he entered the fifth year of a challenging period of his life. He said he immersed himself in creating the work as a means of creative healing. It was put on sale for 13 days from July 20 at 5pm. Thirteen is a significant number for Johnny.

Art experts explained that Johnny revisited ‘Five’ in 2023, where he reflected on the original composition and made additional embellishments. Having previously kept this physical artwork private, Johnny felt he was now ready to share it with the world. 

On overcoming his initial reluctance to release the painting, Johnny said: “It’s not the most comfortable thing doing a self-portrait". A self-portrait acts as a mirror and a window to give thought to our own mental health and the health of those around us. Johnny hopes the piece may inspire others, stating: “If the piece resonates with even just one person, this art has purpose”.

Art experts further explained that ‘Five’ offers a uniquely personal insight into Johnny’s innermost feelings and emotions. They say that the piece is deliberately intimate, expressing the subject’s character and emotional state at the time.

In turn, for every print sold, $200 will go directly to Mental Health America, a leading community-based non-profit charity dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being and illness prevention, and an organisation which Johnny described as “a wonderful facility and an extremely deserving cause; they do a lot of great work there.”

Whereabouts can I see Johnny Depp’s self portrait in the Mailbox, Birmingham?

The portrait is now on display at Castle Fine Art for a limited time only - the gallery has not stated how long this is. Castle Fine Art, a subsidiary of Washington Green Fine Art, is the UK’s leading group of retail art galleries. Founded in 1995, Castle Fine Art has nationwide network of 37 galleries located in accessible, high-street destinations. Specialising in original fine art, hand-signed limited editions and contemporary sculpture, their ethos is to make art accessible for all. You can buy a print of the self portrait until August 2 here: Castle Fine Art Johnny Depp Five

What is the inspiration behind Johnny Depp’s self portrait ‘Five’?

The reference artwork inspiring ‘Five’ pays homage to a photograph taken for Christian Dior Parfums in 2015. The photograph was used to announce Depp as the face of Dior Sauvage in a shoot led by French creative director Jean-Baptiste Mondino. Johnny chose this particular image in honour of Dior and the loyalty they’ve always shown him.

Johnny comments: “He’s got a great eye. The great thing about shooting with Jean-Baptiste Mondino is he will never look at any of his photographs or any of his work where the subject’s eyes aren’t somewhere else, or you see something behind the eyes, and Mondino is kind of a master of that kind of thing.”