An exhibition of Virgil Abloh's work will take over the Brooklyn Museum this summer. It will be Abloh's first posthumous exhibition since his death in November.
On their Twitter account on Thursday, Feb. 10, Brooklyn Museum announced that the exhibition would highlight Abloh's creative process that has redefined modern style in fashion, art, and youth culture.
"We are proud to present the first exhibition devoted to the work of the highly creative late artist and designer in Virgil Abloh: "Figures of Speech," the tweet reads. "The exhibition traces two decades of Abloh's work, highlighting how his emphasis on collaboration and his unique creative process have reshaped popular notions of contemporary taste in fashion, art, commerce, design, and youth culture."
Interrogator of culture. Innovator of design at-large. Collaborator to many.
We are proud to present the first exhibition devoted to the work of the highly creative late artist and designer in Virgil Abloh: "Figures of Speech".https://t.co/8b355aTFOJ #VirgilAblohBkM pic.twitter.com/ymPGl9zCQm
— Brooklyn Museum (@brooklynmuseum) February 10, 2022
According to the Museum's website, the exhibition documents Abloh's use of quotation marks in his work and how he reconstructs his work through a Black cultural lens.
"Figures of Speech" traces Abloh's exploration of the communicative power of design. His use of language and quotation marks turns his designs," the statement reads. "and the people who engage with them, into literal figures of speech. The artist uses the Black gaze to dismantle the traditionally white-crafted structures at work in fashion, design, architecture, and art, reconstructing new work through the lens of the Black cultural experience."
The exhibition includes never-before-seen artifacts from Abloh's archive and a "social sculpture," which draws on the artist's architectural background. Art pieces, large sculptures, immersive spaces, videos, and sketches spanning nearly 20 years of Abloh's career will be a part of the exhibition. In addition to offering a space for gatherings and performances, the installation counteracts the historical underrepresentation of Black artists in cultural institutions.
"Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech," will be on display from Jul. 1 to Jan. 23, will showcase the American fashion designer's work over two decades. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Mar. 10.
