Whether you loved it or hated it, Jay-Z’s six-hour marathon performance of “Picasso Baby” at the Pace Gallery in Chelsea was one of the most hyped art events of the year. Inspired by Marina Abromovic’s groundbreaking 2010 installation, “The Artist is Present,” at MoMA, Jay-Z’s rendition was attended by hundreds of fans, celebrities, and members of art world royalty. Meanwhile, critics viewed “Picasso Baby” as a nail in the coffin of Performance Art. For others, it was refreshing to see the king of hip-hop holding court over a white cube empire. December 2013 |