Bottega Veneta presents “Portraits of Fatherhood,” a poignant photography series by Carrie Mae Weems featuring A$AP Rocky. Commissioned by Creative Director Matthieu Blazy, this series of six images, released on Father’s Day. “This is the evolution of Mr. Mayers,” says A$AP Rocky, who has also been announced as Bottega Veneta’s latest Brand Ambassador. “This is me embodying and embracing fatherhood, parenthood, companionship, and family, while still working on all aspects of my career.”
The tender, black-and-white images depict A$AP Rocky holding, embracing, and interacting with RZA, and Riot Rose. In one photo, Rocky lifts his youngest son and kisses his forehead, while another shows the young boys at a toy piano, with Rocky playing alongside them on a keyboard. These photographs are accompanied by a short film directed by Weems, with music direction by Rocky.
The direct, domestic, and authentic nature of the images is reminiscent of Weems’ iconic Kitchen Table Series and her first solo exhibition, Family Pictures and Stories (1981-1982), which challenged negative stereotypes and messages surrounding the African American family. For Weems, who has long sought to uncover truth through her work, this project with A$AP Rocky represents “an important gesture that cannot be understated.”
“Rocky’s concerns as an African American man with children profoundly moved me,” Weems said. “Historically, there has been a deep lack of honest representation of the Black family. This was a unique opportunity to present something not just positive, but truthful — about Rocky’s experience and its broader implications. Amidst the atrocities committed against Black men, Rocky’s portrayal with his children, in love, speaks volumes.”
Matthieu Blazy, reflecting on the project, remarked, “I first encountered Carrie’s photography as a student. Its originality, engagement, and social impact deeply moved me. Over the years, I have carried the power and importance of her work with me. I am honored that she has brought her lens and vision to this project with Rocky, exploring fatherhood and its contemporary significance. The images reveal the realness of Rocky as a father and a man beyond the public figure, striking in their intimacy.”
For A$AP Rocky, this project represents not just personal growth but a significant statement within his community. “I don’t think there are many people in my culture who advocate for fatherhood and parenthood. This is about me as a one-woman man, as a family man. It is about what completes my life now: being present as a partner and a parent.”
“Portraits of Fatherhood” extends beyond the primary interactions between Rocky and his children. It includes secondary family photography, showing Rocky looking through a homemade newspaper of family photos. A solo portrait features the rapper smiling with framed family pictures in the background, and a still life displays a small toy car next to a vinyl produced by Weems, with a cover image of A$AP Rocky as a child with his own father. This project, set in an authentic everyday setting and focused on genuine moments rather than product promotion, represents an unprecedented endeavor for Rocky, showcasing the sincerity of his role as a father.
