David LaChapelle was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1963. He is an artist and photographer known for his extravagant, hyper-saturated imagery that fuses pop culture, religious symbolism and surrealist fantasy. LaChapelle’s style is theatrical and excessive, often using humour and visual overload to critique fame, materialism and spiritual decay. His portraits of celebrities and his fine-art projects alike employ elaborate sets and lighting reminiscent of baroque painting, transforming spectacle into moral allegory. His approach bridges commercial fashion photography and contemporary art.