A$AP Rocky: Lab Rat

For a matter of days in spring and fall, global art collectors descend upon New York to canvas endless fairs and top auction houses for the best of their seasonal offering. This recently dubbed, Giga-Week is the apex of the art world calendar, with sales surpassing $1 billion across ten days of non-stop viewings and events.

On the eve of it’s contemporary art showcase, Sotheby’s staged a surprise collaboration with rapper and fashion icon, A$AP Rocky entitled Lab Rat. The site-specific, original piece forced the performer to endure a series of physical “tests’ while enclosed in a clear plexiglass tank. Each test provided a glimpse into the artists’ psyche, with allusions to death and fame, to the challenges of creating.

Part performance art. Part concert. The viral event became the centerpiece of Giga-week and the opening night for Sotheby’s exhibition. At the performance’s end, the artist unveiled his newest album to guests in-room and a global audience watching via exclusive live stream by YouTube.