Over a decade after their first collaboration, esteemed photographer slash creative behemoth David LaChappele and Mercedes-Maybach renewed their unique relationship with a show at The Gallery Meravigli in Milan, Italy. 

A highlight of this year’s Design Week, the evening brought together guests to witness the unveiling of three new artworks created by LaChapelle, plus an unbelievable live performance, all inspired by Maybach’s hunger for and mastery of boundary-pushing concepts. It was, perhaps most interestingly, an effective and natural example of how art and luxury brands can come together seamlessly and feed into one another in terms of inspiration. 

“Culture and creativity are at the heart of the Maybach brand,” says Daniel Lescow, Head of Mercedes-Maybach. “We pride ourselves on pushing boundaries and experiences that go beyond the automotive industry and reflect our belief that Maybach is more than a product–it’s a lifestyle. As we continue to take Maybach beyond, collaborations like the one we unveiled in Milan go very naturally with our brand. David is a pioneering artist, and we see a fit between our understanding of creativity, ‘going beyond,’ and David’s ideology and his creative process. We are delighted to celebrate a new chapter of cultural influence and add another moment to our partnership, bringing the brand’s current roster to an art and design audience.”

That Lescow would want Maybach front and center for said design audience is a bit of a “no-brainer.” Maybachs—some of the most luxurious cars in the world—are so intricately designed that car enthusiasts (or anyone who’s driven one) consider them to be works of art (crafted with masterful engineering) in their own rights. 

About Mercedes-Maybach, LaChapelle tells V Magazine: “They give so much trust, freedom, and support in every way, and it’s a dream situation to be able to work in the medium of my choice and to do something artistic with their cars. I had a lot of fun, and they were very, very respectful of the artistic process, and just so kind. I could not ask for a better experience.”

To honor Maybach’s position as pioneers of engineering and design, LaChapelle’s artworks drew influence from three of the most forward-thinking and disruptive art movements of the twentieth century: Futurism, Cubism, and Surrealism. 

The artworks are now permanent pieces within the Mercedes-Benz art Collection, which will be shown to the public at various locations in the coming years.