A Calvert County artist advanced to the top 10 in a national art competition presented by Johnny Depp after turning the actor’s words into a large-scale visual piece.
Jessica, who has been sharing updates from a waterfront location in Southern Maryland, posted a video showing her entry “The Exorcism of Fear.” The work features an ornate black frame surrounding a painting of silhouetted figures reaching toward a central brain-like form amid swirling clouds. She described the piece as a direct response to advice Depp gave contestants last week.
In the video, Jessica said Depp used the phrase “exorcism of fear” during his remarks to artists in the competition. She transformed that statement into the artwork now under public vote. The video shows the piece displayed outdoors near a pier and grassy area with the sun low over the water, consistent with locations along the Patuxent River or Chesapeake Bay shoreline in Calvert County.
The People’s Artist is a nationwide competition and fundraiser hosted by Depp. It invites visual artists to submit work while raising support for The Art of Elysium, a nonprofit that has run community and hospital-based art programs since 1997. The organization focuses on using creative projects to help people address social and emotional challenges.
The top prize includes $25,000, a feature in Artforum Magazine, and an exhibition at The Art of Elysium’s Art Salon in Los Angeles. Public voting determines advancement. Voters receive one free vote per day. Additional votes can be purchased, with proceeds directed as donations to support the nonprofit’s programs.
Jessica stated she is aiming for the top five when the next round of voting concludes. She thanked friends, family and consistent voters for their support and expressed confidence in reaching the final stage. The current top 10 phase precedes finals voting scheduled to open in early July and close July 9, with the grand prize winner announced by early August.
The competition is managed by Colossal Management, LLC, a for-profit company that organizes celebrity-fronted fundraising events for charitable causes. Depp serves as the public face, highlighting artistic expression and social impact through the selected works.
Local artists in Calvert County and across Southern Maryland often participate in regional exhibitions and community projects. Jessica’s advancement brings national attention to a creator working from the area. Her piece directly incorporates a phrase from Depp’s guidance to contestants, illustrating how participants interpret and respond to the competition’s themes.
Supporters can view updates and cast votes through the official Facebook page for The People’s Artist. The event continues to narrow the field from the current top 10 toward the final winner.
