Book Wall Pieces
44 works
Johan Deckmann Overthink For Sale
Johan Deckmann
Overthink, 2026
Acrylic on repurposed book
16 1/2 x 13 3/8 in ; 42 x 34 cm
About this work
<p><em>Overthink</em> (2026) is a painting by Johan Deckmann — Danish artist, practicing psychotherapist, and creator of one of the most distinctive bodies of work in contemporary art. Dimensions: 16 1/2 x 13 3/8 in ; 42 x 34 cm. Executed in the visual language of the self-help paperback, Deckmann's paintings deploy invented book titles as condensed observations about anxiety, love, self-deception, and the fundamental difficulty of being human. They are simultaneously jokes and genuine insights — the kind of thing you might say in a therapy session if you were being unusually honest.</p><p>This work belongs to a practice that has reached an audience of tens of millions through social media while maintaining the intimacy and warmth of objects made to be lived with. Deckmann's paintings are collected internationally and are produced in limited numbers. Contact Guy Hepner to enquire about acquisition.</p>
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Edition & Provenance
- Year
- 2026
- Medium
- Acrylic on repurposed book
About Johan Deckmann
Johan Deckmann is a Danish artist based in Copenhagen, where he also works as a practicing psychotherapist and author. He has been creating paintings and sculptures since the 1990s, though the body of work he is best known for, a series of imaginary self-help books, first appeared in 2014.
Deckmann sources old book covers, records, suitcases, and boxes from second-hand shops, then paints invented titles and silhouetted figures directly onto them. The results resemble vintage self-help guides from the 1960s and 70s, using muted tones and worn textures to give each piece a sense of history. His background in psychotherapy and music composition informs his approach to language, favoring short, pointed phrases that compress complex emotions into a single line. The titles range from wry to unexpectedly tender, and their directness allows them to resonate across different audiences regardless of background.
Deckmann has described his work as a way of applying the same instinct he uses in therapy, to find language that gets to the core of a feeling, to visual art instead. His pieces have been shown internationally, including in Copenhagen, Rome, Amsterdam, New York, and Miami, and have built a substantial following online, where his book pieces are widely shared and recognized.
Guy Hepner works with collectors seeking Johan Deckmann's witty, text-driven self-help book paintings. Contact us to discuss available inventory or to inquire about upcoming releases.