David LaChapelle

David LaChapelle is an American photographer and artist known for his colorful, theatrical, and often surreal visual language. He began his career in commercial fashion and portrait photography, but later developed into an independent artist. In A New World, he creates a visual world in which mythology, religion, and contemporary culture come together, often through a highly staged and symbolic approach.

What draws me to this project is the way he uses mythology within his images and translates it into a contemporary context. His work shows how far one can go in constructing an image and how photography can develop into a fully self-contained, imaginative world. In addition, I find his development as a maker interesting—from commercial photography to independent artistic practice—which makes me reflect on possibilities within my own career.