Art with a Mission: John von Bergen Gives Back to Autoimmune Community Through Sales

A Mysterious Flare Turns Serious
In 2016, John von Bergen noticed some skin flaking on his right elbow. At first, it seemed minor—nothing to worry about. He made an appointment with a dermatologist, who prescribed a cream. Unfortunately, not only did the cream fail to help, but his condition worsened, with skin flaking spreading to other parts of his body.

By the fall of 2017, things took a turn. While recovering from a mild case of food poisoning, combined with jet lag and colder weather, John realized his immune system was under strain. During that period, his symptoms escalated dramatically, leading to a diagnosis of severe psoriasis—a condition that dominated the next year of his life. John tried countless treatments and approaches to manage his symptoms – which eventually impacted his skin from head to toe – but it wasn’t until he started the right biologic medication that he would begin to find real relief.

Navigating Diagnosis and Finding Strength

Reflecting on his journey, John said the biggest challenge as a newly diagnosed autoimmune patient was the frustration of feeling like there was no clear solution, despite constant effort. “Without being incredibly resilient, patient, and determined to get through this confusing time, it could have easily caused an extreme depression, and a worsened sense of despair. I started to doubt what was rational, and what was real, and I felt like I was consumed by solving an impossible puzzle.”

When asked what helped him adapt to living with psoriasis, John shared two key lessons: 1) Understanding how other aspects of his health, like diet and exercise, impacted his condition, and 2) Respecting his body’s limitations.

Art as Medicine: Creativity in the Face of Pain

As a professional artist, John quickly realized how crucial it was for his mental and physical health to keep his creative energy alive in his studio. At times, this was a challenge, especially when his hands were sensitive or painful when working. Still, whenever possible, creating art became a lifeline.

John has worked as a professional artist since completing his studies in New York City in the mid-90s. By the time severe psoriasis disrupted his life and career in 2017, he was living in Berlin and had already built an impressive body of work. The disease caused a major upheaval, but as his condition improved, John resumed his craft. In 2018, with his psoriasis under control, he prepared for a solo show in Dresden, Germany. While the German healthcare system had its strengths, finding the right care and support was still a significant challenge.

“Some people may keep a journal; others play sports or games. I know there are many ways people cope with such extreme autoimmune disease experiences. Art is my profession, but it is also unique in many ways as it has this spiritual component as well. There are also positive challenges we face in making art, and all the small feelings of accomplishment that happen along the way of production,” John shared.

Advice for Others: Don’t Go It Alone
When asked for advice to others navigating autoimmune diseases, John was candid: “Don’t think you can get through this alone. Reading books and relevant articles online may be very helpful, but it can’t compare to human interaction. Find someone who has gone through what you have gone through and is willing to share. Find the right doctors you can trust and be prepared that they still may not have the right solution at hand. Don’t give up. I had every reason to give up, but I focused on exploring all options at my own realistic pace.”

He also emphasized the importance of community. While it was tempting to isolate himself due to the stares and awkward questions about his appearance, connecting with others who understood his journey made a significant difference.

Giving Back Through Art and Advocacy

Today, John is back in his studio, working on a print series titled UFO-UMIS #50, celebrating 20 years of a drawing series that began in 2004. His process involves photographing a small rubber kneaded eraser, creating a montage from the images, and enlarging it to render with pencil on paper—a time-intensive but deeply rewarding exploration of abstraction, representation, and motion.

“This series has always been a healthy break from the more intensive sculptural work I do,” John explained. Many of these drawings have been showcased in museums and private collections worldwide. Recently, one of his pieces, UFO-UMIS #46, was published in Jonathan Lethem’s book, Cellophane Bricks: A Life in Visual Culture, and is currently on display at The Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College in Claremont, California, until June 29, 2025.

Now, John is offering a special Giclée digital art print for purchase, donating 10% of each sale to the Autoimmune Association. Even though his psoriasis has been mostly in remission for years, John is passionate about supporting organizations like the Autoimmune Association that advocate, create awareness, and fund research for better treatments and cures.

“Beyond raising funds, I hope to bring more awareness to the challenges autoimmune patients face daily. This awareness is essential, especially when so much healthcare funding and research is directed elsewhere or even eliminated completely these days due to governmental decisions.

I’m honored to contribute to this advocacy,” John said.

For More Information
For more information and to purchase John’s new print edition, please visit his online shop. 50% off summer special: only $99 (plus shipping and handling).

To learn more about John’s practice please visit his website or visit him on Instagram.