David LaChapelle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the actor and comedian, see Dave Chappelle.
David LaChapelle

David LaChapelle.
Born March 11, 1963 (1963-03-11) (age 45)
Fairfield, Connecticut
United States
Occupation fashion
advertising
fine art photography

David LaChapelle (born March 11, 1963 Fairfield, Connecticut, United States) is a photographer and director who works in the fields of fashion, advertising, and fine art photography, and is noted for his surreal, unique and often humorous style.

Contents

[edit] Biography

LaChapelle attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. His first photograph was of his single mother, Helga LaChapelle, on a family vacation in Puerto Rico. She wore a bikini and held a martini glass on a balcony. From then on he was obsessed with photography.

His first professional job as a photographer was offered by Andy Warhol for Interview magazine. LaChapelle has four published books of his photographs, including LaChapelle Land and Hotel LaChapelle, both containing vivid and bizarre portraits of celebrities such as Marilyn Manson, Drew Barrymore and Uma Thurman.

LaChapelle directed singer Elton John's show, The Red Piano at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace, which premiered in 2004. The show features extensive use of video technology on an LED screen backing the show that, when built, was promoted as the largest and brightest of all time. Several of John's songs during the performance are accompanied by short films by LaChapelle.

LaChapelle's film Rize, a documentary on the krumping style of dance that invaded South Central Los Angeles, premiered at Sundance in 2005 and was released theatrically that summer.

LaChapelle holding a producer credit for The 1 Second Film in November 2004
LaChapelle holding a producer credit for The 1 Second Film in November 2004

He was the original director of Madonna's video for the 2005 hit Hung Up but fell apart due to creative differences with Madonna.

He has directed advertisements for major stores. In 2006 he directed "Romeo and Juliet," a 5-minute commercial for H&M's new denim brand and "Tis the Season to be Gorgeous," a humorous Christmas commercial for UK retailer Boots Group showing very glamorous, self-indulgent women doing relatively mundane Christmas tasks. Also in the UK, he directed the surreal Lost trailers for Channel 4, show the cast dancing in 1920s costume among the burning wreckage on the beach. In addition to this, he directed Channel 4's promotion of Desperate Housewives season one.

It is also known that David LaChapelle is slated to do the cover artwork for Courtney Love's new album, according to Love's posts on her website MoonWashedRose.com.

LaChapelle’s works have been described as surrealist, grotesque, shocking and ironic. His use of celebrities and exaggerates aspects of them or their superficial world. [1]

[edit] Music videos

Currently signed to HSI London (UK) and HSI Production (USA), previously worked with Venus Entertainment (USA). His directing work includes music videos for artists including:

1994

1997

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

  • Sia - "The Girl You Lost"

[edit] Books

Cover of David LaChapelle book, Hotel LaChapelle.
Cover of David LaChapelle book, Hotel LaChapelle.
  • LaChapelle Land (1996)
  • Hotel LaChapelle (1999)
  • Artists and Prostitutes (2006)
  • Heaven to Hell (2006)

[edit] Awards

1995

  • "Best New Photographer of the Year" by both French Photo and American Photo magazines

1996

  • "Photographer of the Year Award" at the VH-1 Fashion Awards

1997

  • "Art Directors Club Award" for Best Book Design for LaChapelle Land

1998

  • Best "Cutting Edge Essay" and "Style Photography" at Life magazine’s Alfred Eisenstadt Awards for Magazine Photography (the Eisies)

1999

  • Honored in the "Cover of the Year" category at the Eisies

2000

2003

  • 12th Annual MVPA Awards - Adult Contemporary Video of the year - Elton John "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore"

2004

2006

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Oscar McLennan (April 26, 2007), Buenos Aires: Surrealist Celebs, Diana Tchinnosian's Inspiration, ARTINFO, <http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/24982/buenos-aires-surrealist-celebs-diana-tchinnosians-inspiration/>. Retrieved on 17 April 2008 

[edit] External links