Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech”

Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech”
12.11.2019 - 08.03.2020

This fall, the High presents the first museum exhibition devoted to the work of Virgil Abloh, the modern, genre-bending artist and designer who became creative director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear in 2018.

Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech” offers an unprecedented survey of Abloh’s creative work over nearly two decades and pulls back the curtain on his process. The exhibition presents prototypes alongside finished artworks, product designs, and fashion to reveal his myriad inspirations—from centuries-old paintings to commonplace construction signs. Running throughout the exhibition is an emphasis on dialogue, which Abloh creates through his inventive use of language and quotation marks, turning the objects he designs and the people who wear his clothing into “figures of speech.”

The works on view will offer an in-depth look at the defining highlights of Abloh’s career, including his recent designs for Louis Vuitton menswear collection, video documentation of his most iconic fashion shows, and his distinctive furniture and graphic design work.

Virgil Abloh (American, born 1980) has made a career of questioning assumptions and subverting expectations. Raised in the Chicago area, Abloh trained as an architect but found his calling as a fashion designer. Since then he has continued to work across disciplines, collaborating with graphic and furniture designers, musicians, and contemporary artists, as well as other fashion designers. In undertaking projects in new fields, he not only influences the conversations within them but also expands their traditional audiences, reaching millions through social media.