Johnny Depp's 'The People's Artist' Names Gregory Bedford Winner
Gregory Bedford, hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, has made history as the inaugural winner of The People's Artist, a competition launched by Johnny Depp in partnership with The Art of Elysium, a nonprofit in Los Angeles. The contest, organized by Colossal, saw more than 200,000 entries across diverse artistic mediums like painting, sculpture, and photography. For his achievement, Bedford will receive $25,000, a feature in Artforum, and a chance to showcase his work at The Art of Elysium's Salon in LA. Participants collectively raised $6.8 million for the organization, founded by Jennifer Howell in 1997, with Depp supporting it since the late '90s. Colossal revealed Bedford's win on Thursday. Depp's new film, Ebenezer, inspired by A Christmas Carol, is scheduled for release on November 13, following its preview at the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con.
Key facts
- Gregory Bedford won The People's Artist competition.
- The competition was presented by Johnny Depp and The Art of Elysium.
- Over 200,000 entries were submitted from North America.
- Bedford receives $25,000, a feature in Artforum, and an exhibition at The Art of Elysium's Salon.
- The competition raised $6.8 million for The Art of Elysium.
- The Art of Elysium was founded in 1997 by Jennifer Howell.
- Johnny Depp has been a donor and supporter since the late 1990s.
- Bedford's abstract acrylic paintings use sand and colored string.
Entities
Artists
- Gregory Bedford
- Johnny Depp
- Jennifer Howell
- Mary Hagen
- Ti West
- Charles Dickens
Institutions
- The Art of Elysium
- Colossal
- Artforum
Locations
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Los Angeles
- San Diego Comic-Con