B Akerlund, Creative Director, Los Angeles

About

This striking portrait features Madonna as the central subject on a magazine cover styled with dramatic religious iconography. She wears a black lace veil, an intricate golden halo, and a beaded choker, with crystal tears painted on her face. In the foreground, a sculptural red heart is pierced by multiple decorative daggers with ornate hilts. The warm, moody background features golden textures and large typography including the magazine title at the top and her name across the bottom. The creative direction by B Akerlund shapes a theatrical, highly stylized aesthetic.