David Black (photographer)
David Black is a fine artist known for his raw, energetic cinematic style sometimes referred to as Western noir.
Career
Black has published three monographs: Candy Mountain (2021), The Days Change at Night (2017), and Cerro Gordo (2016). These works have served as origin points for partnerships with brands, fashion designers, gallerists, and musicians, using his artistic work as a reference for iconography.
As creative director for Dua Lipa, his work spanned the full visual rebrand for the artist’s global Radical Optimism tour, including show direction, scenic design, tour visuals, and promotional materials.
The tour gained critical acclaim, selling out arenas quickly, including four sold out nights at Wembley Stadium. Rolling Stone called it “a stunning exercise in grand-scale staging,[1]” noting that “the entire spectacle is as visually ambitious as anything in the history of showbiz.” Variety noted the four sold-out dates in Los Angeles were “yet another testament to how singular she remains in the ever-changing pop landscape.[2]”
The stage design received coverage for its “elevated platform reminiscent of the shape of an infinity sign, a runway leading to a pseudo-B-stage that lit up in flames... and a floating platform that carried her to the arena’s 100-level seating."[3] And for how it “embraced the “Optimism” aesthetic with the set, designed like a cresting wave to mirror her much-discussed album cover, and punctuated the most explosive moments … with jettisons of confetti.[2]” Overall, the tour earned US$141.1 million within its first 59 concerts and thus becoming the highest-grossing tour of the singer to date, according to sales reports provided by Billboard.
In earlier years, Black’s collaboration with Daft Punk[4] began with their experimental feature film Electroma. Subsequently, Daft Punk commissioned Black to produce the visuals for their final album, Random Access Memories. The band continued to collaborate with Black for the album's promotional merchandise, including books, a limited-edition box set, and launch film.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs initially collaborated with Black to create the visual approach for their comeback album “Cool It Down” after nearly a decade-long hiatus. Black also directed the music video for “Black Top,”[5] a single off their Grammy-nominated album.[6] Capping off their reunion tour at the Hollywood Bowl, the band tapped Black to direct a film documenting that day and the journey to get there.[7]
Black has exhibited his work at OFR Paris, Aperture NYC, One Trick Pony LA,[8] and the Lodge.[9]
Personal life
David currently splits his time between Los Angeles and Paris.
References
- ^ "Dua Lipa Stakes Claim as Hardest Working Person in Showbiz". Rolling Stone Australia. March 23, 2025. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Horowitz, Steven J. (October 5, 2025). "Dua Lipa Turns Los Angeles Into a Dazzling Dance Party on Her 'Radical Optimism' Tour: Concert Review". Variety. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Denis, Kyle (September 19, 2025). "Dua Lipa's Radical Optimism Tour Lights Up NYC's Madison Square Garden: 5 Best Moments". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ "The Work That Made Me: David Black | LBBOnline". lbbonline.com. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ Paul, Larisha (February 7, 2023). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Are All Silhouettes and Technicolor Dreams in 'Blacktop' Music Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs | Artist | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ Robinson, Ellie (October 9, 2022). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Japanese Breakfast and The Linda Lindas join forces to cover Kim Wilde's 'Kids In America'". NME. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ "DAVID BLACK: CANDY MOUNTAIN — One Trick Pony Gallery". onetrickponygallery.com. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ "The Lodge LA". THE LODGE. Retrieved January 7, 2025.