Artist and Psychotherapist Johan Deckmann

"The right words can be like good medicine."

Johan Deckmann would know—he's both an artist and a practicing psychotherapist. The Danish creator has spent decades distilling life's complexities into deceptively simple visual language, but it's his series of imaginary self-help books that has captured hearts worldwide. Painted onto vintage covers sourced from secondhand shops, titles like poetic prescriptions for modern malaise appear alongside silhouetted figures, their muted palettes recalling the earnest guides of the 1960s and '70s. Part humor, part therapy, part mirror—Deckmann's work invites us to laugh at our struggles while recognizing their universal truth. We couldn't be more proud and excited to share this conversation with one of our favorite artists.

Your greatest inspirations or influences?

I am not directly inspired by a specific artist. Also, there are not so many text-based artists. I’m very fascinated by Louise Bourgeois, her forms, textures and psychological depth. I love Sam Haskin’s photographs of women from the 1960’s and 1970’s and the illustrations of John Alcorn. So, it’s not really artist who relate to my own work.

Most interesting response to your work you've heard so far?

When my followers kindly write me and tell me how my works actually have changed their perspective on life. Every man-made thing on earth is a product of a thought. That’s why it makes the most sense to me to work with the human mind, both as an artist and as a psychotherapist

Favourite creatives, websites or social media handles?

I like Nitch and Larry’s List on Instagram. I also follow and support many talented contemporary artists on Instagram and I love to discover new ones. On YouTube i currently watch h3h3Productions, some PewDiePie and I listen to a lot of Mndsgn, Miles Davis and indie folk while working.

And then I love allmusic.com.

What do you think is going to change the most in 2020?

Hard to say. The prophets died long ago. But they spoke of a new world order. Maybe it’s 2020? At least I know that I will be launching several new series and my first collab with another artist.

Anything else?

I’m not the self-destructive kind of artist. I don’t have a need for that. I live healthy, I run and exercise. I like to keep my mind clear. I see life as the most precious gift ever given to anyone, so I intend to extend my journey as far as possible and give as much as I can along the way.

Johan Deckmann is represented by Pablo’s Birthday Gallery and Guy Hepner Gallery in New York City.