Johnny Depp.
Colossal/The Art Of Elysium
The People’s Artist, a nationwide competition presented by showbiz icon Johnny Depp in conjunction with the Los Angeles-based nonprofit The Art of Elysium, has named a winner from among 200,000 entries by artists in North America.
Colossal — which is the leading nationally registered fundraiser behind online competitions — announced the winner on Thursday. According to the organization, the competition drew all sorts of artistic disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, digital art, poetry, woodworking, metalwork, fiber arts, ceramics and illustration.
To help with the competition, Depp invited creators everywhere to participate in The People’s Artist as a way for artisans to be seen and create meaningful social impact through their artwork. According to The Art of Elysium, Depp is the single largest donor and supporter to date of the nonprofit, with his participation dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Over the years, the organization noted, Depp through a series of concerts and events has donated money and music instruments that are being used in programs by The Art of Elysium to this day.
“From the very beginning, we designed this campaign with Johnny because he embodies what it means to be an artist,” said The Art of Elysium founder Jennifer Howell in a statement. “As an actor, musician, painter, director, producer, and storyteller, his creative spirit is constantly evolving. That belief — that creativity has the power to heal, inspire, and connect people — is at the heart of The Art of Elysium’s mission.”
Play Puzzles & Games on Forbes
MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 11: Jennifer Howell, Founder and CEO, The Art of Elysium, speaks onstage during The Art of Elysium Lee Daniels’ HEAVEN 2025 at Rosewood Miramar Beach on November 11, 2025 in Montecito, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for The Art of Elysium)
Getty Images for The Art of Elysium
And The People’s Artist 2026 Is … Gregory Bedford
According to Colossal and The Art of Elysium, Gregory Bedford of the San Francisco Bay Area has been crowned the inaugural champion of The People’s Artist. For his prize, Bedford will receive $25,000 and appear in Artforum. In addition, Bedford’s work will be part of the exhibition at The Art of Elysium’s Salon in Los Angeles.
“The response to this inaugural competition has been incredible,” Howell said in a about the conclusion of the months-long endeavor. “Every artist who participated shared a piece of themselves with the world, and every supporter helped expand opportunities for creativity and healing. We’re grateful to Gregory, every one of the thousands of participating artists, and the entire community that made this possible.”
Throughout The People’s Artist competition, participants and supporters helped raise $6.8 million to benefit The Art of Elysium, which was established by Howell in 1997. Per Colossal, The Art of Elysium “brings artists together to serve communities navigating medical conditions, trauma, displacement, confinement and other life challenges.”
The People’s Artis winner Gregory Bedford.
Colossal
Who Is Gregory Bedford?
Gregory Bedford’s work as an artist extends back to his childhood under the tutelage of his art teacher father, who introduced his son to watercolor, ceramics and many other creative techniques.
“Today, his abstract acrylic paintings are known for their rich textures, layered compositions, and sense of movement,” Colossal and The Art of Elysium noted. “Rather than planning each piece in advance, Gregory embraces intuition, allowing each painting to evolve naturally while continually experimenting with unexpected materials such as sand and colored string.”
“I never know what painting I’m going to do next,” Bedford said in a statement. “The ideas just come. Whether it’s spirit, the universe, or God, I simply follow where the work leads.”
According to Colossal and The Art of Elysium, Bedford shared his work and creative process every weekend for eight weeks through videos and social media to energize his supporters and build a community around his work in the process.
“Art has the power to connect us in ways words alone cannot,” Colossal CEO Mary Hagen said in a statement. “Gregory’s work is deeply personal, expressive, and endlessly curious. Throughout the competition, we watched communities come together to celebrate artists of every background and medium while helping raise meaningful support for The Art of Elysium. That’s exactly what The People’s Artist was created to do.”
As for The People’s Artist presenter Johnny Depp, his latest artistic endeavor will be in theaters on Nov. 13 when he stars in the title role of Ebenezer. Directed by Ti West, the film is based on Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ literary classic A Christmas Carol. Depp was on hand and in character as Ebenezer last week to promote the upcoming holiday ghost tale at the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con.