Tate McRae is an extraordinary artist whose vision for dance pushes beyond performance and into pure storytelling.
Los Angeles based artist Maggie West was deeply inspired by Tate’s iconic VMA appearance, especially the moment when her choreography collided with the sand. The movement of the sand and dust scattering added a new level of intensity to her performance. West now seeks to merge that raw, elemental energy with her own bold approach to color and lighting, creating imagery that is both cinematic and visceral.
Maggie is internationally recognized for her innovative approach to translating natural elements such as sand and water through the use of bold, colored light. Her large-scale installations and editorial projects transform organic materials into immersive visual experiences that feel both surreal and immediate. Maggie’s work has been exhibited at major venues worldwide, including her acclaimed Pools exhibition at Outernet London, a hallucinatory interpretation of sand and water that enveloped viewers in shifting fields of color and light. By merging the physical qualities of natural elements with her signature chromatic techniques, she creates impactful environments that are as memorable as they are visually striking.
SAND
In the first part of this shoot, Maggie will capture Tate immersed in glittering sand, creating a setting that feels both raw and luxurious. Colored light will sweep across the scene, catching on every grain of sand and transforming it into a shimmering backdrop that amplifies the drama of Tate’s movement. The atmosphere will be charged with energy, balancing sensuality and strength while evoking the unforgettable intensity of her VMA performance.
Lighting will be used sculpturally, casting deep shadows and radiant highlights to emphasize the contrast between Tate’s body and the textured surface beneath her. Saturated hues will refract off the sand, creating an iridescent glow that frames her form with bold, graphic precision. The result will be a series of images that merge high-fashion allure with the elemental beauty of movement, presenting Tate as both icon and muse in a visually striking narrative.
WATER
For the second setup in the photo shoot, Maggie will bring water into play as both texture and atmosphere, using it to heighten the sense of drama and intimacy around Tate. In some images, Tate will be photographed against a glass pane with beads of water catching the light, each droplet refracting color and creating a luminous veil behind her. In other shots, water will fall across her body, turning movement into something sculptural as the lighting captures every glistening detail.
The interplay of light and water will frame Tate in a world that feels cinematic and sensual, where color shimmers across her skin and cascades through the scene. By pairing the fluid unpredictability of water with Maggie’s bold chromatic techniques, the images will achieve a balance of elegance and raw energy, positioning Tate at the center of a striking, fashion-forward visual narrative.
COLLAGE
For the third setup in the photo shoot, Maggie will capture a series of additional images using bold, colored lighting setups that can later be layered and reimagined through collage and Photoshop techniques. These portraits will be designed with flexibility in mind, allowing for dynamic overlaps of form, color, and texture that create striking, dreamlike compositions.
By combining multiple shots of Tate into a single frame, Maggie can produce promotional images that feel both modern and surreal, echoing the visual language of high-fashion editorials while highlighting Tate’s versatility as a performer. The resulting collages will expand the narrative of the shoot beyond traditional portraiture, offering unique promotional visuals that stand apart in both the music and fashion worlds.
ABOUT MAGGIE
Maggie is well known for her bold use of color and her innovative approach to elemental materials. Her work has been exhibited internationally at major venues, including her acclaimed multi room video installation at Outernet London, and she has created permanent large-scale installations such as a portrait installation on the Netflix campus in the center of Hollywood.
In addition to her fine art practice, Maggie’s work includes massive billboard campaigns starring LeBron James, striking promotional imagery for Sam Smith, and editorial features that merge cinematic lighting with fashion-forward aesthetics.
These experiences inform Maggie’s editorial vision for Tate McRae. By uniting the raw energy of performance with her signature chromatic techniques, the three distinct setups of sand, water, and layered collage will create imagery that is multidimensional, unforgettable, and designed to resonate across both the music and fashion worlds.
