CULTURE
A Look Inside “Virgil Abloh:
Figures of Speech”
By The Rebag Team, July 6, 2022
Virgil Abloh fused creativity with community.
After stints in Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, and Doha, Qatar, “Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech” is on view at the Brooklyn Museum in New York until January 29, 2023. The exhibition features Abloh’s collaborations with Serena Williams, Rem Koolhaas, and Takashi Murakami as well as his designs for Nike, Off-White, and Louis Vuitton Men’s.
After two years of delays, “Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech” opened at the Brooklyn Museum nearly seven months after Virgil Abloh passed away at age 41 due to terminal cancer in November 2021. The retrospective features dozens of objects designed by the late Abloh, as well as ephemera from his early years. The first iteration to open posthumously after opening at the MCA Chicago, and stints in Boston, Atlanta, and Doha, Qatar, “Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech” is on view at New York’s Brooklyn Museum through January 29, 2023. The exhibition takes a look at three decades of the designer, DJ, and artist’s career, from graffiti sketchbooks from the ‘90s to architectural models from his time a the Illinois Institute of Technology, to his collaborations with power players like Serena Williams, Rem Koolhaas, and Takashi Murakami. Scroll through the slideshow below to follow Rebag’s look inside “Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech.”
Virgil Abloh in Collaboration With Rimowa
Abloh partnered with luxury German suitcase label Rimowa in 2018, challenging the idea of luggage personalization by eschewing the typical stickers for a transparent polycarbonate shell that allows the user to showcase their belongings. For the exhibition, he placed plastic toy guns as a commentary on concealed weapons.
Louis Vuitton c/o Virgil Abloh: "For the Love of Money"
Abloh reimagined the classic Louis Vuitton Keepall, adding curved details and an orange chain, as a nod to his streetwear roots.
Virgil Abloh Collaborates With Nike for “An Array of Air”
Nike tapped Abloh to redesign ten of its most iconic sneaker silhouettes. Abloh remixed elements, adding color, graphics, and accouterments for the collaboration. The sneakers in this photo are examples of unreleased prototypes of the Nike x Virgil Abloh collaboration.
Virgil Abloh Collaborates With Nike for “An Array of Air”
One of the prototypes from Abloh’s Nike collaboration. Abloh wrote “Prototype” with his signature quotation marks wrapped around the word.
Virgil Abloh Collaborates With Nike for “An Array of Air”
Another prototype from Abloh’s Nike collaboration. Abloh playfully added the word “Shoelaces” on the shoelaces.
Office Supplies ℅ Jacob & Co.
In 2017, Abloh collaborated with Jacob & Co. on a collection of jewelry inspired by paper clips. The collection consists of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and more, paying homage to his childhood hobby of making necklaces with paper clips to emulate the chains rappers wear around their necks.
Off-White ℅ Virgil Abloh
A rack filled with Off-White looks.
Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh for Beyoncé
Abloh designed this Off-White gown for Beyoncé’s 2018 Vogue cover shoot, but the dress was ultimately not included in the magazine
Supreme ℅ Virgil Abloh
Virgil Abloh partnered with streetwear label Supreme on a t-shirt in 2019.
Louis Vuitton ℅ Virgil Abloh
This is Look 34 from Louis Vuitton c/o Virgil Abloh Men’s Spring/Summer 2022 collection, bringing together a striking ombré palette.
Louis Vuitton ℅ Virgil Abloh
This black-and-white American flag draped ensemble is Look 63 from Louis Vuitton c/o Virgil Abloh Men’s Fall/Winter 2019 collection.
Louis Vuitton ℅ Virgil Abloh
A nylon kite covered in Louis Vuitton Monogram from the Louis Vuitton Men’s Spring/Summer 2019 We Are the World collection.
Louis Vuitton ℅ Virgil Abloh
L to R: Look 54 from Louis Vuitton ℅ Virgil Abloh Men’s Fall/Winter 2020 Heaven on Earth collection, and Look 58 from the Louis Vuitton ℅ Virgil Abloh Men’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection.
Louis Vuitton ℅ Virgil Abloh
Although Abloh passed away from terminal cancer in November 2021, his legacy lives on. This angelic look is from his posthumous Autumn/Winter 2022 Louis Vuitton Men’s collection.
