Johnny Depp Debuts His First Art Collection – Friends & Heroes

A collection of four paintings, which are called “Friends and Heroes,” included images that the actor and singer painted of people who inspired him.

He recently released 780 prints through the Castle Fine Art gallery —which sold out “almost immediately”— resulting in a staggering $3.6 million dollars.

The pieces are part of Depp’s Friends & Heroes collection, featuring four portraits of Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Taylor, Al Pacino, and Keith Richards. They were created in a bold, graphic style and accented by gestural mark-making that outlines sections of the portrait.

The series signifies four people, according to the gallery, that “…[Depp] 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.”

This includes his professional life. “From his dear friend Keith Richards,” Castle Fine Art continues, “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.”

“I’ve always used art to express my feelings and to reflect on those who matter most to me, like my family, friends and people I admire. My paintings surround my life, but I kept them to myself and limited myself. No one should ever limit themselves.”