Born in Harford, Connecticut, in 1963, David LaChapelle attended high school at North Carolina School of the Arts. Originally enrolled as a painter, he developed an analog technique by hand-painting his own negatives to achieve a sublime spectrum of color before processing his film.
At age 17, LaChapelle moved to New York City. Following his first photography show at Gallery 303, he began taking pictures for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine. One of his first assignments for Warhol was to photograph the budding cultural renaissance in Miami Beach over the summer of 1986. LaChapelle’s unique point of view quickly garnered international interest, and his innovative approach to storytelling established him as one of the world’s most influential living photographers.
Through his mastery of color, unique composition, and imaginative narratives, LaChapelle began to expand the genre of photography. His staged tableau, portrait and still life works challenged devices of traditional photography, and his work quickly gained international interest. By 1997, The New York Times predicted, “LaChapelle is certain to influence the work of a new generation...in the same way that Mr. Avedon pioneered so much of what is familiar today.”
LaChapelle has photographed some of the most recognizable figures in film, music, art, politics and sports, including Aaliyah, Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Andy Warhol, Angeline Jolie, Anna Kournikova, Anna Nicole Smith, Avicii, Britney Spears, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Courtney Love, David Beckham, David Bowie, David Hockney, Dennis Hopper, Diana Damrau, Doja Cat, Dolly Parton, Drew Barrymore, Dua Lipa, Eartha Kitt, Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John, Eminem, Faye Dunaway, Giselle, Gloria Estefan, Hillary Clinton, Jackie Chan, Janet Jackson, Jeff Koons, Julian Assange, Kanye West, Kehinde Wiley, Keke Palmer, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Lance Armstrong, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lil’ Kim, Liza Minnelli, Lizzo, Madonna, Marc Anthony, Mariah Carey, Marilyn Manson, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson, Miley Cyrus, Muhammed Ali, Naomi Campbell, Nicki Minaj, Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, Ricky Martin, Rita Ora, Sade, Serena Williams, Snoop Dogg, Sofia Coppola, Stevie Nicks, The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Tupac Shakur, Uma Thurman, Whitney Houston and many others.
As Forbes magazine stated, “David LaChapelle’s work is not inspired by the zeitgeist; it is the zeitgeist.”
LaChapelle has become one of the most published photographers throughout the world with an anthology of books, including LaChapelle Land (1996), Hotel LaChapelle (1999), Heaven to Hell (2006), Lost & Found and Good News (2017). Simultaneously, his work has expanded into music video, film and stage projects. His 2005 feature film, Rize, was released theatrically in 17 countries. His portraits, stage and film works of celebrities and culture have become iconic archetypes of America in the 21st century.
Over the past 30 years, LaChapelle has exhibited internationally in galleries and museums, including the National Portrait Gallery (London), Musee de Monnaie (Paris), Barbican Centre (London), Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Tel Aviv Museum of Art (Israel), Musee d’Orsay (Paris), Groninger Museum (The Netherlands), Palazzo delle Esposizioni (Rome), Palazzo Reale (Milan), National Portrait Gallery (Washington, D.C.), Casa dei Tre Oci (Venice), La Venaria Reale (Turin), MUDEC (Milan), Fotografiska (New York) and Salone Degli Incanti (Trieste).
In the fall of 2023, LaChapelle was honored with the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” Lifetime Achievement Award at the XIV Florence Biennale.
For more information, visit davidlachapelle.com or follow on Instagram @david_lachapelle.