Abloh expressed something he felt his younger self missed, opening up the doors of civic space to underrepresented communities to inspire the next generation. Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech was a retrospective of his career and highlighted his most iconic work. Their artwork has been showcased at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and Gagosian Gallery’s spaces in Beverly Hills, London, and Paris. Abloh’s first solo exhibit debuted in 2019 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. He frequently collaborated with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. In 2018, he teamed up with German producer Boys Noize to release his first single, “Orvnge.” The following year, Abloh performed at Tomorrowland and Coachella.Ībloh’s eye for aesthetics naturally led him into the art world.
He DJ’d parties in high school and college, which became a side passion for him. His history with West and other musicians was born out of a genuine affinity for music. Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech exhibit at ICA BostonĪbloh’s interest in creating went beyond fashion. The work ultimately earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package. During his time at DONDA, Abloh oversaw the art direction for Jay-Z and West’s album, Watch the Throne. Shortly after, West named Abloh the Creative Director of his creative content company, DONDA. The pair had known each other for years, but their working relationship was cemented during their time in Italy. Only West had achieved any real fame at the time, but he was in the middle of an internship alongside Abloh at Fendi’s headquarters in Rome. I didn’t think I would be the head of Louis Vuitton then, but I knew it was possible,” Abloh recalled to Complex in 2019. “What makes that photo resurfacing interesting is I couldn’t even get into a Louis Vuitton show at that point So, that photo represents to me what may seemingly be impossible is possible. The image featured an 808s & Heartbreak era Kanye West among a group of friends featuring Fonzworth Bentley, Don C, Taz Arnold, Chris Julian, and Abloh standing outside the Comme des Garçons show. A post shared by Tommy Ton 2009, photographer Tommy Ton snapped a photo during Paris Fashion Week that would become iconic.