David LaChapelle’s HAPPY TOGETHER

Internationally acclaimed photographer and film director David LaChapelle opened his new exhibition in Miami at VISU Contemporary Art Gallery marking his first exhibit in Miami Beach. The collection, titled “HAPPY TOGETHER” was curated by VISU gallery owners Bruce Halpryn and Blake Pearson, and will be on display until March 2, 2024. It features a selection of over 30 significant photographs from the artist’s career from 1985 to the present, including the premiere of his new work, titled Three Graces (male) (2023), inspired by Raphael’s master painting The Three Graces (1503-1505). 

At age 17, LaChapelle moved to New York City. Following his first photography show at Gallery 303, he began taking pictures for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine. One of his first assignments for Warhol was to photograph the budding cultural renaissance in Miami Beach over the summer of 1986. LaChapelle’s unique point of view quickly garnered international interest, and his innovative approach to storytelling established him as one of the world’s most influential living photographers. LaChapelle has since photographed a long list of the most recognizable figures in film, music, art, politics and sports, including Amy Winehouse, Andy Warhol, Angeline Jolie, Anna Kournikova, Anna Nicole Smith, Britney Spears, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Doja Cat, Dolly Parton, Drew Barrymore, Dua Lipa, Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John, Eminem, Faye Dunaway, Giselle, Gloria Estefan, Hillary Clinton, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Lance Armstrong, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lil’ Kim, Liza Minnelli, Lizzo, Madonna, Marc Anthony, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Miley Cyrus, Muhammed Ali, Naomi Campbell, Nicki Minaj, Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, Ricky Martin, Serena Williams, Snoop Dogg, Sofia Coppola, Stevie Nicks, The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Tupac Shakur, Uma Thurman, Whitney Houston and many others.

At the grand opening, local celebrities, socialites, creatives, influencers, city officials and media were in attendance including Jenny Starr Perez, Adriana de Moura, Elysze Held, Katrina Campins, Athena Dion, Dope Tavio, and Starr Hawkins.

Eleventy Opens in Bal Harbour Shops

Located at the Bal Harbour Shops, the Eleventy boutique hosted a cocktail party to celebrate its first store in Miami. It was catered by the famed L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele and was followed by an intimate dinner at The Surf Club Restaurant

At the shop, brand founder Marco Baldassari hosted mingled with guests including the Miami Dolphins’ Braxton Berrios, Florida Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour, New York Giants’ Tommy Devito, Eleventy North American Brand President Geoff Schneiderman, Bal Harbour Shops Developers Randall and Gigi Whitman andProduction designer Flavia Lowenstein.

The store has monochrome-multi-material theme, custom-made furniture and authentic materials such light oak wood, rough plaster, Navona travertine, and brushed steel. It’s inspired, according to its website, by modern, Milan city style that brings together sartorial Italian tradition with sophistication, comfort and versatility. All of Eleventy’s merchandise – featuring menswear, womenswear, and childrenswear as well as shoes, accessories, home, travel, and fragrance — is entirely produced in Italy. Notable fans of the brand include Ryan Reynolds, Chris Evans, James Marsden, Dwayne Johnson, Larry David, Will Arnett, Rob McElhenney, Novak Djokovic, Trevor Zegras, Conor McDavid as well as personalities Geoffrey Zakarian, Josh Altman and more.

The Bal Harbour Boutique addition joins existing US locations at Madison Avenue, Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, and Greenwich. Eleventy has global flagships in Milan, Paris, London, Geneva and more. During the summer season, the brand operates a beach-side outpost in the Hamptons.

Also this week…

Also in Miami this week, Pegasus World Cup was held at Gulfstream Park, with social stars and celebrities coming out to bet on the day. In the Flamingo Room, Suzy Buckley, Sarah Lewin, Isabella Grutman, Loren Ridinger, Danielle Berland, Marta Bloom, Tatiana Teo, Dana and Gary Shear, Yuliia Faist, Lorena Perozo, Morgan Shara, Denise Kory, Ana Blago Jevic, Gotmar Giron, Katharine Rubino, Elizabeth Resnick. And in Carousel Lounge, Dominique Lallemand, Jessica Cristobal, Maya Ezratti, Doris Richards, Adina Gould, Maddie Marr, Mariann Marinberg, Nikki Squire.

In Florida City, N.W. 1st Avenue was renamed Paul DiMare Way, not “street” because – according to some who spoke at the podium – the late successful and knowledgeable businessman and philanthropist Paul DiMare usually got his way. The ceremony was packed with officials from the Miami Dade County, including the office of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the Florida Department of Agriculture, as well as Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens board president and lawyer Bruce Greer, broadcast journalist Laurie Jennings, Chief Appellate Judge Bronwyn Miller, SocialMiami editor Brett Graff and of course, the late executive’s wife, philanthropist Swanee DiMare.