VIRGIL ABLOH’S “FIGURES OF SPEECH” EXHIBITION

On the road since 2019, the “Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech” traces Abloh's exploration of the communicative power of design through his use of language and quotation marks that turn his designs, and the people who engage with them, into literal figures of speech. The retrospective recently landed at the Brooklyn Museum, marking the last stop of this unique display that spotlights the late multi-disciplinary artist’s work from his years studying industrial design to becoming the chief men’s creative at Louis Vuitton. Curated by writer and editor Antwaun Sargent, it comprises a number of elements that chronicle Abloh’s life, career, and creative ethos. Spanning his first fashion label, Pyrex Vision, motley sneaker collaborations with Nike and Jordan, and artwork and sculptures, the retrospect opens with Abloh’s school notebooks and turntables and speakers from his DJ days to lead into his fashion works, including pieces from Off-White and Louis Vuitton ensembles, bags and boots.