LaChapelle’s innovative approach has made the artist one of the world’s most influential living photographers. His extraordinary portraits, theatrical and cinematic works of celebrities and culture, have become iconic archetypes of 21st century America. This special exhibition offers more than twenty-six significant pieces from various periods of the artist’s work; a dynamic combination of figurative paintings, portraits, and still lifes will be presented alongside the artist’s most recent faith-inspired photographs.
“I feel a responsibility to bring light into the world and create images that can uplift and serve humanity, even while employing drama and humor. Whether secular or religious, my images are part of the same experience and evolving perspective,” says LaChapelle.
The exciting diversity of themes in the works on display highlights LaChapelle’s ability to create thought-provoking narratives that become archetypes of our time. As Forbes writes, “David LaChapelle’s work is not inspired by the zeitgeist, it is the zeitgeist.” The collection includes portraits of Britney Spears, Leonardo DiCaprio and David Hockney made through the artist’s playful approach. Also noteworthy is Rebirth of Venus (2009), an interpretation of Botticelli’s famous work Birth of Venus, set in contemporary times against the lush backdrop of the Hawaiian jungle. In contrast, one of the artist’s most recent works, Revelations (2019) is inspired by the biblical book of the same name. In this painting, an elderly couple embrace on a deserted street lined with abandoned storefronts as the approach of a spectacular storm seems imminent. The Holy Family with St. Francis (2019), featured prominently in the recent museum exhibition “I Believe in Miracles” at Mudec, represents LaChapelle’s ability to reimagine old-world ideas and aesthetics with painterly effects through photography.
“I wanted to personally participate in curating the exhibition and selecting the works of this artist, of whom I am a collector myself. I want to offer the opportunity for clients who come to us to acquire particularly significant works signed LaChapelle”-explains Deodato Salafia, founder of Deodato Arte Gallery-“It is an honor to have in the gallery an international artist of this magnitude, who has not only changed the rules of photography forever, but whose works have been exhibited over the past 30 years in the world’s most eminent institutions, such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Musèe d’Orsay in Paris and the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.”