David LaChapelle's iconic two-book series, Lost + Found and Good News, are back in print after ten years – but you might have to hurry, as these will be the last printed editions!
LaChapelle's psychedelic pop art style of photography has graced the covers of many publications such as Vogue, Rolling Stone and I-D. A modern-day provocateur, his work is often a topic of debate among photographers – but there is no denying his unique artistic talent, and these coffee table books are a prime example.
Lost + Found and Good News are the final two installments from LaChapelle's extensive five-book anthology, which began in 1996 with LaChapelle Land, and continued with Hotel LaChapelle in 1999 and Heaven to Hell in 2006.
The fourth book in the series, first printed in 2017, Lost + Found featured over a decade's worth of unseen work from the photographer's creative revival.
LaChapelle describes the book as offering a bridge into paradise and the sublime, which is done by many famous muses playing roles in meticulously crafted sets.
It includes a who's who of stars including Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian and Miley Cyrus, who you may already associate with this style of imagery. However, Julian Assange, Chris Rock and Ben Affleck may not be, and they also play a part.
Good News, also originally published in 2017, follows in the footsteps of Lost + Found and provides the concluding installment. The style and aesthetic continue in the same kitsch manner, but more religious iconography is included in this installment – alluding to LaChapelle's wider narrative of the anthology.
"Good News follows David LaChapelle’s creative renaissance as he surrenders to contemplations of mortality, moving beyond the material world in a quest for paradise," says publisher Taschen.
"Featuring a monumental curation of images, it is a sublime and arresting new body of work that attempts to photograph that which can’t be photographed."
The books are certainly a pair, exploring an extraordinary 30 years of surrealist kitsch-pop fashion photography. Lost + Found offers a stunning visual comment on our times, while Good News brings LaChapelle’s narrative to a more personal and introspective close.
Lost + Found and Good News by David LaChapelle are published by Taschen and they are both available now for $50 / £40 each (Australian pricing to be confirmed).
Taschen also offers a limited run of 500 Art Editions, which includes both books and three prints each signed by David LaChapelle. This edition is available for $2,500 / £2,000.
You may also be interested in our guides on the best coffee table books, the best books on fashion photography, and the best camera for portraits.
