The Beautiful Worlds of David LaChapelle

While not generally regarded as an “artist” in the same way Cindy Shurman and Robert Frank are, the work of David LaChapelle (not to be confused by comedian Dave Chappelle) is beautiful, and in some ways genius. LaChapelle is mostly known for his celebrity portraits, and has captured some of the world’s biggest stars, from Tupac Shakur to Doja Cat. His works capture their subjects divinely, with the usage of many vibrant colors and dynamic lighting. His story starts as a young boy moving to New York City.

The Early Life of David LaChapelle

LaChapelle grew up in Hartford, Connecticut to Phillip and Helga LaChapelle. Helga was a Lithuanian immigrant and would often take family photos, which was later said to greatly influence LaChapelle in his work. A particular picture of a baby LaChapelle in an angel costume was said to be greatly influential, given LaChapelle uses angels and wings a lot in his work. From a young age, he had a great attachment to spirituality, with a Catholic father who found his faith in church and a mother who found her faith in nature. David combined both of these influences (the stained glass and dramatic imagery of the church and the natural world) into his work.

After dropping out of an art high school due to being bullied for his homosexuality, LaChapelle moved to New York City to work in a club. He eventually attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, returning to New York in the 1980s, where he began photography. Even in these early days, he utilized religious symbolism, including an early image of an angel with wings; wings he bought using money from working at the club. It was then that he found Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine.

Magazine Photography

LaChapelle would enter the magazine industry and would become known for his pictures of celebrities. Like most of his other work, he stated that these images provided an element of escapism, and were just for fun. Interestingly, many of these celebrities are depicted as deities. LaChapelle viewed the celebrity as a deity in some way, worshipped by the people that follow them. He accomplishes this through lighting of the subject, oftentimes a crown that appears similarly to a halo, giving the person wings of some sort through body positions and oftentimes the length and style of a certain dress. Nudity is also utilized to create this effect, harkening back to Renaissance religious paintings he takes inspiration from.

LaChapelle is very easily comparable to Warhol, who he worshipped and eventually got the chance to meet. He has a romanticized idea of the celebrity, just as Warhol had a romanticized idea of the Coke or Campbell’s soup can. Both artists create art to celebrate, with Warhol to celebrate what he viewed as the universality of consumerism and LaChapelle to celebrate the idol through glorification.

LaChapelle’s Fine Art

While the artist still takes portraits of celebrities, he became increasingly known for his artistic photos as time continued. This artwork is similar to his celebrity portraits where he captured deities and had a focus on a subject. They provide detailed escapism and are meant to submerse the viewer in another world. He does so by changes in color palette, and the use of rich, beautiful landscapes inhabited by fantastical figures. This is most prominent in his landscapes; for example, in his images of gas stations. You see the gas station within a rainforest, seemingly with no way for a vehicle to get in or out. The stark contrasts presented are fantastical on their own, but are exemplified by the gas stations’ light pink and red hues mixed with the dark greens and blues of the surrounding forest.

LaChapelle has been featured in both magazine pages and art galleries, but his style and influences remain the same. He presents fantastical universes, divine figures, and rich color schemes, all culminating in pieces of art that are intriguing, complex, and most importantly beautiful.