Meet us at the virtual museum for a conversation between internationally renowned photographer David LaChapelle and PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans.

LaChapelle got his first break when Andy Warhol discovered him by way of Studio 54 and hired LaChapelle as a contributing photographer for Interview Magazine. Through his mastery of color, unique composition, and imaginative narratives, LaChapelle has expanded the genre of photography since 1980, becoming known and copied for his high-gloss and colorfully elaborate approach. LaChapelle and Sirmans will discuss how and from where LaChapelle finds inspiration, especially during challenging times such as these.

*Catch this Live Virtual Art Talk on PAMM Facebook Live and YouTube Live. Please consider becoming a member of the PAMM Photography and Video Arts Council to participate in a private virtual meeting with the artist following the public conversation.*

ABOUT DAVID LACHAPELLE
David LaChapelle was born in Connecticut in 1963 and attended high school at North Carolina School of The Arts. Originally enrolled as a painter, he developed an analog technique by hand-painting his own negatives to achieve a sublime spectrum of color before processing his film.

At age 17, LaChapelle moved to New York City. Following his first photography show at Gallery 303, he was hired by Andy Warhol to work at Interview Magazine.

Through his mastery of color, unique composition, and imaginative narratives, LaChapelle began to expand the genre of photography. His staged tableau, portrait, and still life works challenged devices of traditional photography and his work quickly gained international interest. By 1991, The New York Times predicted, "LaChapelle is certain to influence the work of a new generation...in the same way that Mr. Avedon pioneered so much of what is familiar today."

In the decades since, LaChapelle has become one of the most published photographers throughout the world with an anthology of books including LaChapelle Land (1996), Hotel LaChapelle (1999), Heaven to Hell (2006), Lost & Found, and Good News (2017).  Simultaneously, his work has expanded into music video, film, and stage projects.  His 2005 feature film Rize was released theatrically in 17 countries. Many of his still and film works have become iconic archetypes of America in the 21st Century.

In the past 30 years, LaChapelle has exhibited internationally in galleries and museums including the National Portrait Gallery (London), Musee de Monnaie (Paris), Barbican Centre (London), Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Musee D'Orsay (Paris), Groninger Museum (The Netherlands), Palazzo delle Esposizioni (Rome), National Portrait Gallery (Washington D.C.), and Casa dei Tre Oci (Venice). Last year's highlights included a major solo exhibition at La Venaria Reale (Turin).​

Pérez Art Museum Miami Transcript on Youtube

Live Virtual Art Talk: David LaChapelle and Franklin Sirmans