From Concept To Creation With Daniel Arsham

Daniel Arsham’s unmistakable aesthetic has cemented his place in the contemporary art world, transforming everyday objects into relics of both the past and future. "My art is all about creating a confusion in time where you don't quite know where you are,"Arsham says.

Renowned for his visionary collaborations with Dior, Porsche, and Tiffany & Co., the New York-based artist has now joined forces with Assouline and ROC Nation to reimagine The Book of HOV: A Tribute to Jay-Z. Arsham’s contribution—a striking clamshell case—is not just a cover but a sculptural work of art. Each of the five limited-edition slipcovers undergoes a meticulous patination process that tells its own story. "The patina on the works is basically a forced oxidation," Arsham shares. "If you were to cast something in bronze and leave it out for 100 years, it would get this same look."

Arsham’s partnership with ROC Nation first began in 2023 with the HOV Hands sculpture, a centerpiece of The Book of HOV exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library—an installation that drew over 600,000 visitors, making it one of the largest public art displays in U.S. history. Now, this second collaboration further dissolves the boundaries between music, art, and innovation. "Music has this way of bringing you back to a particular moment in time," Arsham says. "Some of the pieces I make feel like they mark a particular moment in time, and this collaboration really was one of them."

Bridging contemporary art with Jay-Z’s lasting legacy, this collector’s edition transcends traditional book design. Encased in a bespoke white and bronze clamshell cover with Arsham’s signature erosion effect, each volume is bound in "Jay-Z Blue" leather, featuring a silver-foil stamped tri-fold cover. His design also weaves in the rapper’s genius, with iconic lyrics from Hovi Baby, Things That U Do, and Sweet embedded throughout—turning the book itself into a timeless artifact.

Price available upon request. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Special Limited Edition will be donated to the Brooklyn Public Library. To learn more about Daniel Arsham's special edition cover for The Book of HOV: A Tribute to Jay-Z, watch the Beyond The Cover video on Assouline.com.