Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech (Special Edition)

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In the Phillips conversation, Darling said other museums were initially hesitant to get on board. “…They had a really hard time understanding what this would be, didn’t know exactly who he was,” he said. Designed in close collaboration with Abloh, “Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech” was published to coincide with the exhibition. There are two versions of the catalog. A special edition comes in a slipcase. THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO is presenting the first museum exhibition dedicated to Virgil Abloh. The fast-rising designer and inveterate collaborator is the head of menswear design at Louis Vuitton and founder of the “streetwear” label Off-White. A traveling survey spanning two decades, “Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech” explores the products, partnerships, and creative processes of the artist, architect, and designer.

Generous hotel partner for Virgil Abloh: "Figures of Speech" is Aloft Mag Mile. Additional Links event

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Preview our Fall 2023 catalog, featuring more than 500 new books on art, photography, design, architecture, film, music and visual culture. The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago presents Virgil Abloh: "Figures of Speech," the first museum exhibition devoted to the work of the genre-bending artist and designer Virgil Abloh (American, b. 1980). Abloh pioneers a practice that cuts across media and connects visual artists, musicians, graphic designers, fashion designers, and architects. Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech” was organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, curated by Michael Darling, James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator, with curatorial assistance from Chanon Kenji Praepipatmongkol, Marjorie Susman Curatorial Fellow, and presented in the Griffin Galleries of Art, June 10–September 22, 2019. AS: New York was the place where he became sort of a solo artist. Before he came to New York and met Shane, Ian, Venus and all of those folks, he was embedded in Kanye’s creative world in Chicago. Him and Kanye, obviously, were still super tight. But in NYC, he sort of branches out, right, with Been Trill and all of his interests unique to New York, right? For him, he wanted to do something different in New York especially with this “Figures of Speech” exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. This show is totally different from the original one at MCA Chicago. Like the work tables with all the various objects beside each other, the “Social Sculpture,” and also the gift shop. He wanted the show to follow a sort of logic around minimalism while creating objects made of materials that are simple as way to sort of say that you can also go to Home Depot, get the foam or wood or anything really and make whatever you want to make.

Sargent said that this approach was meant to express Abloh's attempts to break down divisions and hierarchies in the creative industries. "Functional Art" is Abloh's polished chrome version of Dieter Rams' 1965 Wandanlage wall-mounted stereo made for Braun. The photo is by Jonas Werner Photography courtesy of Gymnastic Art Institute and Virgil Abloh Securities Weekly updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news. Dezeen Awards

Several works have been released since Abloh's passing, including a number of products revealed at the recent Milan Design Week.

Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech” is organized by Michael Darling, former James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. The Brooklyn Museum presentation is organized by writer and curator Antwaun Sargent. I think, fundamentally, what Virgil was about was the breaking down of hierarchies in the creative disciplines to make sure that there were folks who had access that hadn't previously had access to different forms of making," said Sargent. Writing for The New York Times, Jon Caramanica calls the display “one of the show’s most convincing arrangements.” He continues: “On the left is Mr. Abloh’s D.J. setup—austerely beautiful wooden speakers (by Devon Turnbull), glimmering CD turntables (by Pioneer DJ)—presented as a shrine. And hanging on the wall to the right is a cease and desist letter from the United Nations chiding Mr. Abloh for using its logo on fliers for D.J. gigs.” Where previous iterations of the exhibition were designed by Samir Bantal, director of the research arm of Dutch studio OMA, the Brooklyn Museum's space was created by designer Mahfuz Sultan in collaboration with creatives from Alaska Alaska – Abloh's London-based design studio – as well as Lance Singletary of the Brooklyn Museum. Virgil Abloh: ‘Figures of Speech,’” MCA Chicago, accessed October 4, 2019, https://mcachicago.org/Exhibitions/2019/Virgil-Abloh.

“Church & State”

News about our Dezeen Awards China programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates. The exhibition is organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.The exhibition tour is made possible by Kenneth C. Griffin. In 2018, Abloh paired up with Takashi Murakami presenting art exhibitions at Gagosian Gallery in London, Paris, and Los Angeles. (Murakami had his own solo show at MCA Chicago in 2017 and has previously collaborated with Kanye West and Louis Vuitton, before Abloh arrived.) Abloh also designs rugs and furniture for IKEA. Last month, the first Off-White home goods collection was released. Virgil Abloh has made a career out of questioning assumptions and defying expectations. Born in 1980 and 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 others in the fashion industry. 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. Lead individual sponsorship for Virgil Abloh:“Figures of Speech” is generously contributed by Kenneth C. Griffin.