Actor Timothée Chalamet traveled to the remote Nevada desert to visit Michael Heizer’s monumental Land art installation, City. Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, this trip was part of a Vogue profile capturing the extensive artwork and Chalamet’s reflections.
The massive installation, spanning a mile and a half in length and half a mile wide, was completed in 2022 after over fifty years of construction starting in 1970. Chalamet described his experience with the piece concisely:
“It’s just a totally remote experience.”
While the profile touches on various projects, including his latest film Marty Supreme directed by Josh Safdie—where he plays a former table-tennis champion facing hard times—Chalamet’s artistic commentary mainly centered on the photoshoot and the photographer.
Chalamet expressed admiration for Annie Leibovitz’s dedication and work ethic during the shoot at City:
“Annie is an absolute beast. Sometimes when people become so iconic, you can forget how much effort goes in. She’s the first one up at 5:30 a.m., poring over materials.”
“She had a compulsive creative attitude, focused solely on capturing great shots before moving on to the next thing.”
This glimpse into the collaboration highlights the intensity behind both the artwork and its photographic portrayal.
Author’s summary: Timothée Chalamet’s visit to Michael Heizer’s epic Land art installation reveals both the enormity of the artwork and the creative rigor of Annie Leibovitz’s photography for Vogue.