David LaChapelle (1963) is an American commercial photographer, fine-art photographer, music video director, and film director. He was born in Connecticut and attended high school at North Carolina School of The Arts. Originally enrolled as a painter, he developed an analogue technique by hand-painting his own negatives to achieve a sublime spectrum of color before processing his film.
At age seventeen, LaChapelle moved to New York City. Following his first photography show at Gallery 303, he was hired by Andy Warhol to work at Interview Magazine.
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.”
In the decades since, 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 (2017), 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. Many of his still and film works have become iconic archetypes of America in the 21st Century.
LaChapelle has photographed some of the most recognizable figures in film, music, art, politics and sports'
In the fall of 2023, LaChapelle was honored with the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” Lifetime Achievement Award at the XIV Florence Biennale.
© 2026. All content on this blog is protected by international copyright laws All images are copyrighted © by David LaChapelle or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only
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| David LaChapelle |
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| Andy Warhol: Last Sitting, 1986 |
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| East Village Morning, 1995 |
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| Drew Barrymore: A Waitress, 1995 |
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| Leondardo Di Caprio: Unspoiled, 1996 |
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| Chanel on Ice, Oregon, Paris Vogue, 1997 |
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| Uma Thurman: Gossip, 1997 |
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| Eminem; About to Blow, 1999 |
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| Britney Spears: NYC Street Scene, 2000 |
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| Death by Hamburger, 2001 |
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| As the world turned, 2002 |
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| But Honeyed Looks Betray, 2002 |
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| Amanda As Andy Warhol's Liz Taylor, 2003 |
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| Amanda As Andy Warhol's Marilyn, 2003 |
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| Anointing, 2003 from Jesus Is My Homeboy Series |
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| Evidence of a Miraculous Event, 2003 from Jesus Is My Homeboy Series |
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| Intercession, 2003 from Jesus Is My Homeboy Series |
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| Last Supper, 2003 from Jesus Is My Homeboy Series |
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| Loaves & Fishes, 2003 from Jesus Is My Homeboy Series |
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| Sermon, 2003 from Jesus Is My Homeboy Series |
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| Young girls with a dinosaur, 2004 |
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| Most Perfect Work II (Kehinde Wiley), 2005 |
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| The House At The End Of The World, 2005 |
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| I'm your Piñata, 2006 |
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| Rihanna: Where Have You Been?, 2007 |
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| Archangel Michael: And no Message Could Have Been Any Clearer, 2009 |
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Pamela Anderson: He Aimed the Arrows of Love that Puncture My Aching Heart,
2010 |
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| A new world, 2017 |
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| Behold, 2017 |
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| Graceful Planet, 2017 |
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| Kenzo Kenzotopia, 2019 |
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| The Holy Family with St. Francis, 2019 |
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| Elton John: Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour |
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| Pink Biggie |
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