David LaChapelle's highly polished, saturated and intricately composed photographs possess the surreal wildness of fever dreams, concocted as they are out of the imagery of celebrity, eroticism and modern Americana, and spiked with religious allegory and forebodings of doom.
Such work has made him among the most influential art and celebrity photographers of his generation. You might say LaChapelle sprung straight from the head of Andy Warhol, whose campy silkscreen fusions of the glamorous, the transgressive and the everyday forever changed contemporary art.
Like so many young gay artists who came out of the 1980s downtown New York scene, LaChapelle’s escapist visions arose out of a lonely, bullied adolescence. Although born in Connecticut, the photographer spent his early childhood in North Carolina, the youngest of three children. Later, when LaChapelle was in his early teens, his family moved back to suburban Connecticut, but his cowboy costumes and gender-bending ways did not earn LaChapelle friends among his new preppy classmates.
By high school, LaChapelle felt terrorized and suicidal. He fled to New York, where his good looks got him a job bussing tables at Studio 54. It was there that he reputedly first met Warhol, who had been his favorite artist since he first gazed upon a Gold Marilyn, while on a fourth-grade field trip to a museum.
LaChapelle's parents eventually retrieved him from New York, and, sympathizing with his plight, sent him off to the North Carolina School of the Arts. Despite a more embracing atmosphere, he didn’t stay long. A sojourn in London followed. When he returned to New York, around 1983, the punk-inflected downtown culture was churning out gritty new art. Keith Haring’s gay-themed Pop-art graffiti was in everybody’s face, and Robert Mapplethorpe’s S&M photos were on gallery walls.
Having scored a show of his black-and-white photography — already vaguely campy and transfiguration-obsessed — at New York’s then-fledgling 303 Gallery in 1984, LaChapelle attracted the interest of Interview magazine. Warhol was then at the zenith of his influence in both the art world and the downtown scene. Recognizing LaChapelle’s potential as an eye-catching celebrity photographer, he put him on staff, providing him with the creative milieu where his distinctive talent might develop.
There were editorial assignments for i-D, The Face and later for Vanity Fair, Vogue Paris and Rolling Stone. He also made excursions into advertising. One of his most talked about campaigns was a provocative print ad for Diesel jeans inspired by the famous photograph of the V-J kiss in Times Square, but this time showing Tom of Finland–type sailors in passionate embrace.
After being without an editorial home for several years, LaChapelle finally found a base at Details, where he was again encouraged to let his freak flag fly. So arresting were his images that it wasn’t long before “the Fellini of photography,” as New York magazine dubbed him in 1996, was again working for Interview. One of his most emblematic pictures from this era was a Lil’ Kim cover for that magazine, featuring the rapper’s nude body emblazoned with Louis Vuitton insignia (one of the most famous logos in luxury fashion).
Such visually zany, socially astute portraits prompted Richard Avedon to liken LaChapelle to a photographic Magritte, while also winning him invitations to direct music videos for such talents as Christina Aguilera, Moby and Amy Winehouse.
Find a collection of original David LaChapelle photography today on 1stDibs.
Original Absolut Outrageous Cocktails Perfect pop art poster
By David LaChapelle
Located in Spokane, WA
Original ABSOLUT OUTrageeous, Cocktails perfected pop art liquor poster. The archived linen is backed in excellent condition and ready to frame. The p...
Offset
$28,000Sale Price|20% Off
Madonna: Mythical Swans, Rolling Stone Magazine Portfolio, David LaChapelle
By David LaChapelle
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: David LaChapelle (1963) Title: Mythical Swans: Madonna, New York, Rolling Stone, 1998 Year: 1998 Medium: Chromogenic print, front-mounted to acrylic, flush-mounted to alumin...
C Print
Gisele: Snake Charmer
By David LaChapelle
Located in Toronto, Ontario
In the early 1990s, David LaChapelle (b.1963) ushered in a new era of fashion photography. He created ground-breaking images with hyper-glossy, celebrity-obsessed, surrealism. LaCha...
C Print
Vintage Untitled Beach Scene, 1987
By David LaChapelle
Located in Surfside, FL
Please ignore the glare on the glass. Rare, early, signed and dated (verso) 1987 vintage silver gelatin print. this is one of a kind and not editioned according to correspondence I h...
Silver Gelatin
$2,000
David LaChapelle American Jesus Kasmin print (Hand Signed by David LaChapelle)
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
This work was published for the exhibition, American Jesus, held 13 July - 18 September 2010 at Paul Kasmin, New York in cooperation with Fred Torres Colla...
Lithograph, Offset, Ink
Nude Man and Woman in the Grass (White Rabbits)
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Vintage gelatin silver print Signed, inscribed, and dated in pencil, verso This photograph is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. Hired by Andy Warhol as a photographer f...
Silver Gelatin
East Village Morning
By David LaChapelle
Located in Zurich, CH
David LaChapelle (*1963, United States) East Village Morning, 1995 C-print 101,6 x 73,6 cm (40 x 29 in.) Edition of 7; Ed. no. 2/7 Print only Signed by the artist
C Print
Artists & Prostitutes
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Limited Edition of 2,500 copies, numbered and signed by David LaChapelle Edition of 2,500 Hardcover in clamshell box, 13.6 x 19.7 in., 43.43 lb, 698 pages
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Madison in Times Square, New York
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Diesel Jeans Victory Day 1945
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Unsigned
Black and White
Price Upon Request
Alek Wek: This is My House
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Edition of 23
C Print
Price Upon Request
Collapse in a Garden, 1995
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on label of authenticity
C Print
Price Upon Request
This is My House
By David LaChapelle
Located in Saint Louis, MO
David LaChapelle This is My House, 1997 Chromogenic print 17 x 20 1/2 inches (43.2 x 52.1 cm) Edition of 50 Editioned in verso
C Print
Price Upon Request
After the Deluge: Statue, Los Angeles
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on a label of authenticity
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Archangel Uriel
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
David LaChapelle Archangel Uriel 1985/2022 Signed and numbered on label, verso Archival pigment print (Edition of 500) 16 x 12 inches Contact gall...
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Diesel Jeans, Victory Day, 1945
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Golden Hour: David Hockney
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
My Own Liz
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Elton John: Egg on His Face
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer Please inquire about additional limited sizes and editions
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
After The Deluge: Statue (The End of All We Knew)
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Elizabeth Taylor: National Velvet
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Elizabeth Taylor: National Velvet 2002/2022 Signed and numbered on label, verso Archival pigment print (Edition of 500) 10 x 16 inches Contact gallery for price. This work is of...
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Vulgar Tears, Paris, 1995
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Edition of 10 + 3 Artist's Proofs
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
David and Amanda, New York
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Amanda Lepore’s birth name was Armand Lepore. In the early 1980’s, three decades before transgender rights became a social issue, she began her devotion to the plastic surgery that would transform her in to a downtown New York icon and frequent muse to photographer David LaChapelle. Filmmaker Joel Schumacher has called Lepore a “moving sculpture...
C Print
Fish Stick: Devon Aoki in Agent Provocateur, London
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Edition of 7 + 3 Artist’s Proofs Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Rebirth of Venus
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Sandro Botticelli’s iconic painting The Birth of Venus (click here) was created in the late 15th century and depicts the mythological origin of the goddess Aphrodite (known also as Venus, the goddess of love and sex), who was born an adult woman from sea foam. Although this myth was very popular with artists beginning in the 16th century, Botticelli’s painting...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Orange Crush
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Chromogenic Print in Artist’s Frame. Signed by the photographer.
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Amanda: My Own Marilyn, 2007
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Elizabeth Taylor: Act Up
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is in an edition of 7. Signed by the photographer.
C Print
Price Upon Request
David Hockney: Golden Hour
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer.
C Print
Price Upon Request
America
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Earth Laughs in Flowers: Springtime
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Whitney Houston: Closed Eyes
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Whitney Houston: But Now I See
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Uma Thurman: Beauties Bloom, New York
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Tupac Shakur: To Begin Again 1
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
The Rock: The Bull, Los Angeles
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Showtime at the Apocalypse, Los Angeles
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Self-Portrait as House, Los Angeles
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Rose McGowan: Sinless
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Pamela Anderson: He Aimed the Arrows of Love that Puncture My Aching Heart
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Nicki Minaj: Superbass
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Miley Ray Cyrus: Solitary
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Lil’ Kim: Luxury Item, New York
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Leonardo DiCaprio: Unspoiled, Los Angeles
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Lana Del Ray: Newly Weds, Los Angeles
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Lana Del Ray: Free Love, Los Angeles
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
It’s Not About Me, It’s About You, Los Angeles
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Hillary Clinton: Politicians Paradox
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Faye Dunaway: Day of the Locust, Hollywood
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Eminem: About to Blow, New York
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Elton John: Egg on His Face, New York
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Elton John: Someone Save My Life Tonight
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Elizabeth Taylor: National Velvet, Burbank CA
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
David Bowie: Self Preservation, Los Angeles
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Courtney Love: Silent Screaming
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Cher
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Brittany Murphy with Pierrot, Los Angeles
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Britney Spears: Portrait of a Young Pop Star on the Verge of Success, Louisiana
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Brick
Price Upon Request
Bicentennial Birthday, Los Angeles
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print
Price Upon Request
Anna Nicole Smith: Rich Girl, Poor Girl, New York
By David LaChapelle
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
C Print