David LaChapelle photographs Ney Matogrosso in Brazil
David LaChapelle travels to São Paulo to photograph one of Brazil’s most beloved cultural icons in celebration of his 85th year.
by John Byrne
Come to Brazil!
In July 2026, David LaChapelle traveled to São Paulo, Brazil, to photograph legendary Brazilian singer and performer Ney Matogrosso for the campaign surrounding his forthcoming tour, 85 Anos de Ousadia, celebrating the artist's 85th birthday and an extraordinary career spanning more than five decades.
The collaboration brought together two artists whose work has long challenged conventions surrounding beauty, identity, performance and self-expression. Emerging in the early 1970s as the unmistakable voice and presence of Secos & Molhados, Matogrosso became one of the most singular figures in Brazilian culture.
Emerging in the early 1970s as the unmistakable voice and presence of Secos & Molhados, Matogrosso became one of the most singular figures in Brazilian culture.
At the height of Brazil's military dictatorship, his androgynous appearance, elaborate costumes, makeup, physicality and remarkable voice defied conventional ideas of masculinity and performance. His subsequent solo career established him as one of Brazil's most enduring and influential performers.
David LaChapelle Studio was approached by Ney's team in 2026 to capture the visuals for Ney's 85th Birthday Tour - and after watching Homem com H, the 2025 film inspired by the singer's life and career, David immediately said yes.
The Setting
The photographs were created at the São Paulo Botanical Garden, where Matogrosso and LaChapelle worked among the lush vegetation, trees and pathways of the park. The session continued for approximately seven hours, with Matogrosso moving between locations and changing into a selection of the extraordinary costumes that have been so central to his visual identity.
Some behind-the-scenes images of the shoot captured by @diogodamascena Instagram
For LaChapelle, one of the most memorable aspects of the experience happened beyond the camera. As the shoot moved through the garden, people began recognizing Ney. Fans appeared from among the trees and along the pathways, stopping to watch him work. David remembers seeing their faces light up as they caught sight of him; some simply smiled and watched, while others were visibly moved to tears.
David remembers seeing their faces light up as they caught sight of him; some simply smiled and watched, while others were visibly moved to tears.
It offered LaChapelle an immediate understanding of just how deeply loved Matogrosso is in Brazil and beyond.
David was equally struck by Ney himself. At 85, he brought remarkable energy and physicality to the session..agile, intense and completely engaged in the process, yet at the same time humble and generous. Despite the scale of his cultural stature, there was an openness and simplicity to the way he worked that made a profound impression on LaChapelle.
Some behind-the-scenes clips of David LaChapelle photographing Ney Matogrosso
at the Jardim Botânico de São Paulo.
The admiration was mutual. Matogrosso later recalled that after completing a series of photographs, LaChapelle and members of his team would applaud. Seeing their excitement and their eyes shining, as Ney described it, reassured him that something special was happening between them.
David was also impressed with the extraordinary Brazilian crew and artisans who helped bring the photographs to life. He was struck by the level of talent, craftsmanship and care that went into the production, particularly the construction of the large-scale set pieces, including the enormous flower and the boat created for the images. These were not elements that could simply have been fabricated anywhere. For David, their character came from the hands of the local artisans who made them and from a visual sensibility deeply connected to Brazil itself.
The craftsmanship gave the sets an authenticity and spirit that became an essential part of the photographs.
For David, the experience extended far beyond the photographs themselves. He remembers being deeply touched by the warmth with which Ney, his team and the Brazilian crew welcomed him and cared for him throughout his stay in São Paulo.
He remembers being deeply touched by the warmth with which Ney, his team and the Brazilian crew welcomed him and cared for him throughout his stay in São Paulo.
It was a positive creative experience and wonderful trip overall.
The resulting portraits introduce 85 Anos de Ousadia, a project conceived not as a farewell, but as a celebration of an artist who, at 85, remains as vital, daring and unmistakably himself as ever.
The photos from LaChapelle’s shoot with Ney Matogrosso beautifully capture his electrifying presence—every image feels like a performance frozen in time. It’s fascinating how both artists use visual intensity to amplify expression, much like how clear audio can deepen the impact of a vocal performance. For those working with recorded interviews or live performances, tools that make recorded speech easier to hear help preserve the authenticity and emotion behind the voice, just as this series preserves Ney’s iconic artistry.
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