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Video: Jay Z recruits the stars of the art world to make the video for Picasso Baby

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Date
8 August 2013

A few weeks ago Jay Z was casually placing his new album Magna Carta Holy Grail next to the actual Magna Carta in Salisbury Cathedral. This week he blew everyone’s minds again by hosting a very intimate, energetic show in New York for a mixture of fans and some key players of the art world.

Inspired by Marina Abramovic’s 700 hour stare-athon back in 2012, Jay Z performs his new song Picasso Baby as a piece of performance art, explaining “Concerts are basically performance art but the venue changes, and just by nature the performance changes. A smaller venue is more intimate so you get to feel the energy of the people.” Well, no one said he was Plato, but his choice of guests is second to none. Expect Judd Apatow, Lawrence Weiner, Marina herself and many, many more. Still sceptical? Just try not to smile while you’re watching this video.

A crowd of people gather on a city pavement outside a building. They stand in small groups, talking and looking towards one another.
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Jay Z: Picasso Baby

Jay-Z wears a white shirt and gold chains, holding a finger to their lips in a “shush” gesture. Behind them, another person in a grey suit and black tie looks on.
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Jay Z: Picasso Baby

A person in a black V-neck top looks towards another person wearing a white T-shirt. They stand in front of a crowd of people in a bright, open space.
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Jay Z: Picasso Baby

Adam Driver wears a blue T-shirt and looks off-camera during an interview. A camera operator and filming equipment are visible behind them in a bright, open studio.
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Jay Z: Picasso Baby

A person with short white hair and pink-tinted sunglasses smiles broadly. They wear a white short-sleeved shirt and stand against a blurred background of people.
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Jay Z: Picasso Baby

Jay-Z and Takashi Murakami stand together in a bright room. Jay-Z wears a white shirt and gold chain, speaking while gesturing with their hand.
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Jay Z: Picasso Baby

Jay-Z and George Lucas stand side by side, with Lucas resting an arm around Jay-Z’s shoulder. Lucas wears sunglasses and a dark polo shirt, while Jay-Z wears a white shirt and a gold chain.
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Jay Z: Picasso Baby

Jay-Z stands in a bright, white gallery space, wearing a white shirt and gold chains. He gestures with his hands while a crowd of people watches from the background.
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Jay Z: Picasso Baby

A profile portrait of Lawrence Weiner, who has a long white beard and hair tied back. Text at the bottom reads “Lawrence Weiner // Artist”.
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Jay Z: Picasso Baby

George Condo wears sunglasses and a blue blazer, looking slightly to the side. Text at the bottom of the frame reads “GEORGE CONDO // ARTIST”.
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Jay Z: Picasso Baby

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About the Author

Liv Siddall

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Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

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