“Art is the only language that can hold what I carry. It evolves with me and will endure beyond me. Three letters, undeniable power.” — Chantell Van Erbé

New Jersey’s own Chantell Van Erbé has officially entered the ring for Johnny Depp Presents The People’s Artist, a nationwide visual art competition and fundraising initiative supporting The Art of Elysium. With Mark Mothersbaugh of DEVO lending his name and creative weight to the program, the competition spotlights artists from across the country while raising funds for a nonprofit that uses art as a tool for healing and human connection — bringing creative programs into hospitals and communities for people facing illness, trauma, and other life-altering circumstances.

The stakes are high. One artist will walk away with $25,000, an appearance in Artforum Magazine, and the chance to display their work at The Art of Elysium’s Salon in Los Angeles. The competition unfolds across multiple rounds of public voting, with artists grouped into brackets and supporters casting one free vote every 24 hours. Voting kicked off May 4 and continues in rounds through the summer, with the final winner announced in August.

Cast your free vote for Chantell here: https://peoplesartist.org/2026/chantell-van-erb

About the Artist

Chantell Van Erbé is a contemporary mixed-media artist whose work explores atmosphere, tension, and the slippery space between reality and perception. Her layered compositions — drawn from intuition, memory, and observation — feel grounded and otherworldly at the same time, an aesthetic she has refined across years of exhibitions in museums and galleries worldwide. Highlights include a solo exhibition at the Butler Institute of American Art and a selection for Women in Louvre II at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris.

Beyond her own canvases, Van Erbé recently paid homage to fellow artist Ace Frehley through both her writing and her work. Her tribute, along with rare pieces of Frehley’s own artwork, can be read here: http://www.chantellvanerbe.art/post/the-unfinished-canvas-a-tribute-to-my-friend-ace-frehley

Hear From Mark Mothersbaugh

While you’re voting, take a moment to revisit one of DEVO’s most iconic moments — Mark Mothersbaugh helping define an entire era of art-meets-music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfP0_Z2Trzg

How to Support

Voting is free, fast, and refreshes every 24 hours — meaning you can return daily to keep Chantell moving through the rounds. Beyond voting, every share, repost, and conversation helps drive awareness for The Art of Elysium’s mission.

Vote daily: https://peoplesartist.org/2026/chantell-van-erb
Visit the official website: http://www.chantellvanerbe.art

For press inquiries, contact Maria Ferrero at Adrenaline PR — maria@adrenalinepr.com / 732-462-4262.