Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech (Special Edition)

Product Information

ArtsATL | “”Figures of Speech” at the High Museum “tells the story arc of my career,” says Virgil Abloh” Church & State” features pieces from the brand Pyrex Vision, Abloh’s first foray into fashion, along with a limited number of signature Off-Whitepieces, furniture from his studio Alaska Alaska, and special-edition gear created for the show . Jon Caramarica, “Can Virgil Abloh Fit in a Museum?,” The New York Times, August 22, 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/arts/design/virgil-abloh-mca-chicago.html., Evan Moffitt, “Don’t Buy What Virgil Abloh Is Selling,” Frieze, September 20, 2019, https://frieze.com/article/dont-buy-what-virgil-abloh-selling. Daily updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news. Dezeen Jobs Weekly

It’s clear that Virgil’s focus on materiality was important to him while offering modes of accessibility in anything he touches. Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh, Spring/Summer 2017, Look 12; courtesy of Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh Photo: Fabien Montique About the Exhibition Darling told the Chicago Tribune that when he approached Abloh, the designer initially thought he wanted him to DJ at the museum. Once he understood what the curator he had in mind, Abloh said he was ready. The thirty minute audio guide, by no means an innovation in museology, is particularly important to “Figures of Speech,” as it includes recognizable guests in Abloh’s world. Meant to enhance the visitor’s experience, the audio guide includes “art curator and historian Hans Ulrich Obrist, fashion critic Amy Verner, and No Vacancy Inn cofounders Tremaine Emory and Acyde, [and] explores Abloh’s career, ethos, and methodology around the creative process.” [2] In the introduction, each guest introduces themselves, allowing the visitor to familiarize themselves with each voice, while also introducing Abloh and his work. 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.Our next session is a distinguished mentoring opportunity featuring Mr. Virgil Abloh, a Ghanaian-American creative, architect, engineer, and fashion designer. He is the artistic director of Louis Vuitton and the CEO of the Milan-based label Off-White. In addition to running major fashion brands and consulting, he DJs under the alias Flat-White. News from Dezeen Events Guide, a listings guide covering the leading design-related events taking place around the world. Plus occasional updates. Dezeen Awards China 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. The first section features essays and an interview that examine Abloh’s oeuvre through the lenses of contemporary art history, architecture, streetwear, high fashion and race, to provide insight into a prolific and impactful career that cuts across mediums, connecting visual artists, musicians, graphic designers, fashion designers, major brands and architects. The book also contains a massive archive of images culled from Abloh’s personal files on major projects, revealing behind-the-scenes snapshots, prototypes, inspirations and more—accompanied by intimate commentary from the artist. Finally, a gorgeous full-color plate section offers a detailed view of Abloh’s work across disciplines. Though the exhibition is divided conceptually between Abloh's work in design, fashion and architecture, many of the objects are arrayed together.

Because Figures of Speech was in the works for years, Sargent said: "It is, in fact, not at all in that way a memorial, right? It really is a show by a living artist."News about our Dezeen Awards programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates. Dezeen Events Guide K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas – Adam Nana”Extract of David Shrigley interview “Advice to the Young [White Label]

The exhibition is organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.The exhibition tour is made possible by Kenneth C. Griffin. 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. Named men’s artistic director at Louis Vuitton in 2018, Abloh established Off-White in 2013. Off-White has collaborated with all manner of brands and companies such as Nike, Champion, Montcler, Timberland, Levi’s, Jimmy Choo, and the concept store Kish. Abloh has worked with a Swedish perfume house and a French restaurant. He’s also designed costumes for the New York City Ballet and released Air Force 1 collabs exclusively at the MoMA Design Store. For me, ‘Figures of Speech’ is an art exhibition rooted in advertising and ‘the projected image.’ Any time an idea takes shape on a particular surface—a photo print, a screen, a billboard, or canvas—it becomes real,” Abloh said in a statement.LEE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: MIND, MYTHOS, MUSE DELMONICO BOOKS/LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART ISBN: 9781636810188

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. An exhibition like this in a major contemporary art museum is the next milestone in the evolution of Virgil’s practice,” Michael Darling, chief curator at MCA Chicago, said in a statement. “This show examines the choices Virgil has made, the media he works with, and the context of his artistic inspiration. His projects have unfurled with intention, precision, critique, historical awareness, cultural sensitivity, and rigor, and when taken out of the buzzy, frothy context of luxury fashion, celebrity mannequins, and hip hop one-upmanship, a very measured vision emerges.” Abloh cultivated an interest in design and music at an early age, finding inspiration in the urban culture of Chicago. While pursuing a master’s degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, he worked on album covers, concert designs, and merchandising. In 2013, Abloh founded his stand-alone fashion brand Off-White™ in Milan, Italy, and, in 2018, assumed the position of artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear.

Hours

Church & State” is an extension of the Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech”exhibition. Building on his fame and dominance in streetwear culture, Abloh created the “Church & State” pop-up store to present special collection pieces that commemorate important moments in the lifecycle of his brand. Set in an immersive space designed by Samir Bantal, the Director of AMO, the research studio of Rem Koolhaas’s renowned architectural firm OMA, the MCA exhibition will offer an in-depth look at defining highlights of Abloh’s career including a program of cross-disciplinary offerings that will mirror the artist’s range of interests across music, fashion, architecture, and design.