Opening Reception Tickets on sale for Orlando Museum of Art’s David LaChapelle: As the World Turns
- Alastair Mac
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
The most expansive U.S. retrospective of LaChapelle’s career will launch with an exclusive, glamorous opening-night celebration, inviting guests to a first look at the artist’s vivid, visionary world.
The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) has announced that tickets are now on sale for the opening reception of David LaChapelle: As the World Turns, the most expansive U.S. retrospective ever mounted of the internationally acclaimed photographer and director.
Curated by chief curator Coralie Claeysen-Gleyzon, As the World Turns will bring together 167 works, including 111 framed photographs and a major large-scale installation featuring 56 posters. It highlights rare early-career pieces alongside never-before-seen works – an extraordinary offering from an artist whose career spans more than four prolific decades.
The exhibition opens to the public on January 31, 2026. OMA will celebrate the exhibition with a vibrant, haute-couture-inspired opening reception on January 30, 2026, from 6 - 9 pm.
Tickets are on sale now and expected to sell quickly, with VIP Tickets already sold out!
Presented by the Stan and Naomi Loomis Foundation, the evening will feature:
A red carpet entrance
High-fashion attire encouraged
DJ and entertainment
Gourmet lite bites and specialty drinks
An exclusive first look at the landmark show
An immersive party atmosphere celebrating art, creativity and community
“David’s art creates a meeting ground; it brings people together. His work explores identity, faith, beauty, fame and loss, but always with a surprising, generous spirit,” said Claeysen-Gleyzon. “The show – and opening reception – invites guests to come with an open mind and experience both the spectacle and the sincerity behind each image. We want people not only to experience the exhibition, but to feel the energy, the glamour and the joy of being in the presence of LaChapelle’s world.”
Alongside the exhibition, OMA will host a slate of programs including a live model drawing session, fashion photography workshops, and an artist lecture and book signing with LaChapelle himself taking place January 31, 2026, at 2 p.m.
David LaChapelle: As The World Turns will be on view at OMA from January 31, 2026, to May 3, 2026.
To purchase tickets to the opening reception on January 30, 2026, please click here.
LaChapelle’s career began in New York City during the 1980s, a period shaped by creativity, excess and loss. Following his first gallery exhibition, he was hired by Andy Warhol to shoot for Interview Magazine, launching a career that would redefine the relationship between art, photography and popular culture. In the decades since, LaChapelle has become one of the most published photographers in the world, with an anthology of books including LaChapelle Land (1996), Hotel LaChapelle (1999), Heaven to Hell (2006), Lost & Found (2017), and Good News (2024).
LaChapelle has photographed some of the most recognizable figures in film, music, art, politics and sports, including Amy Winehouse, David Beckham, David Bowie, Elton John, Hillary Clinton, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Miley Cyrus, Muhammad Ali, Pamela Anderson, Stevie Nicks and Tupac Shakur, among many others.
In addition to major photographic works, the exhibition will feature the world premiere of a monumental new creation that draws inspiration from classical fresco techniques and grand historical compositions. This expansive piece, made possible by Deodato Arte, Italy, channels LaChapelle’s fascination with scale, drama and the sublime, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience a creation that has never before been displayed publicly.
LaChapelle expresed his thoughts on the news, "This exhibition at OMA is very special to me because I am revealing many new pieces that required me to use all of the experiences from my life to make. I have felt a great freedom in my work through recent years – as I continue to play with themes of popular culture while also returning to the narratives that offer a reflection of the spiritual world and metaphysical ideas."
In addition to photographs and premiere works, the exhibition will include hand-painted negatives, film-based media, and behind-the-scenes footage revealing the artist’s meticulous creative process.
OMA’s permanent collection of American and international contemporary art – with works exploring themes of beauty, spirituality and the human experience – provides the perfect context for this exhibition. "OMA’s mission has always been to present diverse and world-class programming, and this exhibition is a perfect example of our commitment to bringing groundbreaking cultural experiences to Central Florida,” Cathryn Mattson, CEO of OMA, said. “We hope this exhibition sparks conversation and inspiration across our community.”
To complement David LaChapelle: As The World Turns, OMA will offer a series of engaging programs, including a live model drawing class, fashion photography workshops and an artist lecture/book signing with LaChapelle himself.
David LaChapelle: As The World Turns will be on view at OMA from January 31, 2026, to May 3, 2026.
For more information about OMA's exhibitions and programs, please visit www.omart.org.
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