David LaChapelle's American Jesus, or the Redemption of Michael Jackson

Photographer David LaChapelle has been showcasing the famous, infamous and often outrageous side of pop culture (and counterculture) for nearly two decades. After shooting some of the most recognizable faces of our generation (think Britney Spears, Tupac Shakur, Amanda Lepore, and Hillary Clinton) for Interview Magazine and other notable publications, he took a slight departure to work on music video direction, stage work, and other creative ventures.

Well, LaChapelle is bringing his work back into the gallery. His current solo exhibition, ‘American Jesus,’ opened last week at New York’s Paul Kasmin Gallery and features LaChapelle’s old friend Michael Jackson, shot just before his passing in a biblically inspired series of images that are colorful and poppy, yet offer a deep and thoughtful narrative. The show reads like a public defense of Jackson who’s portrayed as an angelic martyr, as well as a not-so-subtle jab at the Catholic Church. Making an appearance in the exhibit as well is Naomi Campbell, depicted as Botticelli’s Venus.

I know it's not likely possible, but in the future, I want the world to appear like a giant LaChapelle photograph--colorful and whimsical and just.

[This post appeared in its original form on Curated.]

Design Dish: literary Louis Vuitton

You can't afford a new Louis Vuitton purse this season. Don't worry--neither can the majority of American citizens. But you can probably manage to score a copy of 'Louis Vuitton: Art, Fashion and Architecture.' And the good news--the book, which documents LV's collaborations with stellar artists (including Frank Gehry, Takashi Murakami, David LaChapelle and Stephen Sprouse) over the years won't go out of style as soon as this season's newest handbag.

The book's on sale at major book retailers. But pop into a Louis Vuitton boutique or visit the brand online  and find the deluxle edition designed by Takashi Murakami, the man of a million bright colors and cutesy alien creatures himself.

Buy the book on Amazon.

The first thing that I DON'T hate about Ed Hardy.

I hate Ed Hardy. In the entire city of Los Angeles, there is little that offends me more than the sight of an illustrated lion bedazzled with more rhinestones than God meant to be created [ever], let alone affixed to one shirt.

But I have to admit...and it pains me...that I don't completely hate the new Ed Hardy ad campaign. Perhaps it's just because I know it's shot by the masterful David LaChapelle, but it seems [almost] not that awful. Not that I'll be sporting the staple rhinestone-emblazoned trucker hat any time soon.

[Source: WWD Memo Pad]