David LaChapelle's "American Jesus" AKA Michael Jackson

THE COMPLEX
By Bradley Carborne

The video director/uber-photographer David LaChapelle—known in our world for images like the Lil' Kim/LV print photo, the shot from VIBE of Tupac in the bathtub, and for being the mind behind Christina Aguilera's "Dirty" video—opened his new exhibition " American Jesus" at New York's Paul Kasmin Gallery last night.

As expected, the work on display is all pretty crazy and highly fuckwitable. Highlights include the photographer's final photo shoot with Michael Jackson, a series in which the singer is portrayed as a Biblical martyr. If you come to NYC at all this summer, put this on your checklist, since the exhibit runs through September 18. But if you're not here yet, hit the jump to see the photos on display at the exhibit. [link]

"American Jesus." 2009.