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Make-Over: Surgery Story, New York,
1995
David LaChapelle
Photography : C-print
50.8 x 61 x 5 cm 20 x 24 x 2 inch
One of the last works available by this artist
Second NOT DISPLAYED BLUR TEXT
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About the artwork
Type
Numbered and limited to 30 copies
1 copy available
Signature
Signed artwork
Authenticity
Invoice from the gallery
Medium
Dimensions cm • inch
50.8 x 61 x 5 cm 20 x 24 x 2 inch Height x Width x Depth
Support
Framing
Artwork sold framed
Artwork dimensions including frame
55 x 65 x 5.1 cm 21.7 x 25.6 x 2 inch
Tags
Artwork sold in perfect condition
Artwork location: France
Chromogenic print.
Signed, titled, inscribed, numbered and dated.
LaChapelle is known for his vibrant, surreal, and often provocative imagery, and this piece is no exception. The work engages with the theme of plastic surgery and the desire to reshape and redefine oneself in the pursuit of an idealized appearance. Through the exaggerated contrast of hyperrealism and theatrical composition, Make-Over: Surgery Story presents a narrative of self-transformation, raising questions about identity, self-image, and the role of media in influencing individual and collective perceptions of beauty.
The chromogenic print medium enhances the vividness and depth of the image, drawing the viewer's eye to every detail while inviting a critical reflection on the cultural norms surrounding physical perfection. LaChapelle's work has often been associated with commentary on fame, celebrity culture, and the commodification of human bodies. In Make-Over: Surgery Story, this commentary is intensified, with the artist using the performative nature of the image to suggest that even the most private and personal decisions about one's body are inextricably linked to external pressures and the public gaze.
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Presentation
David LaChapelle was born on March 11, 1963 in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. He 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.
Known to be major player in the fashion photography world. 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.
In recent years LaChapelle has expanded his work to include music videos, live theatrical events and documentary film-making. His directing credits include music videos for artists such as Christina Aguilera, Moby, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, The Vines and No Doubt.
April 2024 marked a notable collaboration between LaChapelle and Mercedes-Maybach, resulting in a series of three distinctive works that merge luxury automotive design with his unique artistic vision. In the realm of fashion, September 2024 saw LaChapelle partnering with designer Christian Louboutin for a memorable Paris Fashion Week event. Held at the Piscine Molitor, the show featured Olympic swimmers and culminated with both LaChapelle and Louboutin diving into the pool, highlighting their shared flair for theatricality. Additionally, LaChapelle's photographic prowess was showcased in a cover shoot with pop artist Charli XCX for New York Magazine's "Fall Preview" issue.
In February 2025, the Galleria Cavour 1959 in Bologna, Italy, is hosting "Beyond the Real: David LaChapelle in Bologna," an exhibition featuring over 30 of his works, including the exclusive piece "Tower of Babel" (2024). This showcase delves into themes such as spirituality, climate change, and the interplay between art, fashion, and society.
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's images, both bizarre and gorgeous, have forged a singular style that is unique, original and perfectly unmistakable. He has photographed personalities as diverse as Tupac Shakur, Madonna, Amanda Lepore, Eminem, Philip Johnson, Lance Armstrong, Pamela Anderson, Li'l Kim, Uma Thurman, Elizabeth Taylor, David Beckham, Paris Hilton, Jeff Koons, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hillary Clinton, Muhammad Ali, and Britney Spears, to name just a few. Once called the Fellini of photography, LaChapelle has worked for the most prestigious international publications and has been the subject of exhibitions in both commercial galleries and leading public institutions worldwide.
LaChapelle's work continues to be inspired by everything from art history to street culture, creating both a record and mirror of all facets of popular culture today. He is quite simply the only photographic artist currently working in the world today whose work has transcended the fashion and celebrity magazine context it was made for, and has been enshrined by the notoriously discerning and fickle contemporary art intelligentsia.
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