Exhibitions

Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech”–

Featured images

  • A dark-skinned arm holds up two fingers in a peace symbol from behind a monochrome light-blue mannequin.
  • A dark-skinned model walks a fashion runway wearing narrow red sunglasses, a sheer white long-sleeved top and shorts set, and tall bright yellow boots.
  • A dark-skinned model stands rigidly while wearing a rich yellow outfit of a striped hoodie, long shorts, and high striped socks with white sneakers.
  • A pale young woman wears a single-shoulder, floor-length black dress cinched with an industrial-yellow belt with black lettering that reads "OFF-WHITE" and that drapes down to her white sneakers.
  • A model poses in an urban landscape while wearing a frilly shirt with the word "WOMAN" on the breast and wide-flared denim jeans.
  • A model walks down a forest-like runway while wearing a boldly checkered black-and-white sherpa fleece jacket and black trousers.
  • A model walks down a runway while wearing long earrings, an asymmetrical pinstriped suit dress, and red sneakers.
A dark-skinned arm holds up two fingers in a peace symbol from behind a monochrome light-blue mannequin.
Photographed by Juergen Teller in his studio in London, 2018
©Juergen Teller, 2018
A dark-skinned model walks a fashion runway wearing narrow red sunglasses, a sheer white long-sleeved top and shorts set, and tall bright yellow boots.
Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh, Spring/Summer 2018, Look 11; courtesy of Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh
Photo: Fabien Montique
A dark-skinned model stands rigidly while wearing a rich yellow outfit of a striped hoodie, long shorts, and high striped socks with white sneakers.
Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh, Summer/Spring 2014; courtesy of Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh
Photo: Enrico Ranzato
A pale young woman wears a single-shoulder, floor-length black dress cinched with an industrial-yellow belt with black lettering that reads "OFF-WHITE" and that drapes down to her white sneakers.
  1. Long A pale young woman wearing a one-shoulder, floor-length black dress is framed by scaffolding in a white room with wood floors covered by a drop cloth. She casually stands and faces the camera with a neutral expression. An industrial-yellow belt with black type that reads "OFF-WHITE" cinches the structural bodice of the dress. The floor-length skirt meets white sneakers.
Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh, Pre-Fall 2016, Look 14; courtesy of Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh
Photo: Fabien Montique
A model poses in an urban landscape while wearing a frilly shirt with the word "WOMAN" on the breast and wide-flared denim jeans.
Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh, Resort 2017, Look 10; courtesy of Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh
Photo: Fabien Montique
A model walks down a forest-like runway while wearing a boldly checkered black-and-white sherpa fleece jacket and black trousers.
Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh, Autumn/Winter 2017, Look 28; courtesy of Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh
Photo: Fabien Montique
A model walks down a runway while wearing long earrings, an asymmetrical pinstriped suit dress, and red sneakers.
Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh, Spring/Summer 2017, Look 12; courtesy of Off-White™ c/o Virgil Abloh
Photo: Fabien Montique
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Announcement

Extended by popular demand—the exhibition will now close on September 29.

About

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.

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 connected with Kanye West and joined West’s creative team to work 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 Men’s Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton.

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.

The exhibition is organized by Michael Darling, James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator, with curatorial assistance from Chanon Kenji Praepipatmongkol, Marjorie Susman Curatorial Fellow. It is presented in the Griffin Galleries of Art on the museum’s fourth floor.

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Circle and DVC membership levels have unlimited access to the exhibition and do not need to reserve timed tickets. These levels will also be eligible for additional yet-to-be-announced benefits. Please contact the office of Individual Giving at 312-397-4044 for further information and exhibition sponsorship opportunities.

Join or renew today.

“Church & State”

Virgil Abloh × MCA pop-up store, “Church & State,” MCA Chicago
Photo: Peter McCullough, © MCA Chicago
Virgil Abloh × MCA pop-up store, “Church & State,” MCA Chicago
Photo: Peter McCullough, © MCA Chicago
Virgil Abloh × MCA pop-up store, “Church & State,” MCA Chicago
Photo: Peter McCullough, © MCA Chicago
Virgil Abloh × MCA pop-up store, “Church & State,” MCA Chicago
Photo: Peter McCullough, © MCA Chicago
Virgil Abloh × MCA pop-up store, “Church & State,” MCA Chicago
Photo: Peter McCullough, © MCA Chicago
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Church & State description

As a continuation of the works in the galleries, a pop-up store is located on the fourth floor of the museum. Named and styled by Abloh and his team, "Church & State" features a retrospective of best-selling Off-White product and new, exclusive collections inspired by the exhibition. The store is accessible with a “Figures of Speech” ticket. Product is available in-store, on-site only.

Gallery Text

“Figures of Speech”

To enhance your visit, the MCA offers an audio experience to accompany Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech.” Including art curator and historian Hans Ulrich Obrist, fashion critic Amy Verner, and No Vacancy Inn cofounders Tremaine Emory and Acyde, this 30-minute deep dive explores Abloh’s career, ethos, and methodology around the creative process.

The audio experience contains profanity.

Transcripts of Artworks

Funding

Lead individual sponsorship for Virgil Abloh:“Figures of Speech” is generously contributed by Kenneth C. Griffin.

Lead support is provided by the Harris Family Foundation in memory of Bette and Neison Harris: Caryn and King Harris, Katherine Harris, Toni and Ron Paul, Pam Szokol, Linda and Bill Friend, and Stephanie and John Harris; Zell Family Foundation; Cari and Michael J. Sacks; Julie and Larry Bernstein; Marilyn, Larry, and Adam Fields; Karyn and Bill Silverstein; and Matt Bayer and Joyce Yaung and the Bayer Family Foundation.

Major support is provided by Conagra Brands Foundation, Susan Gaspari-Forest and Robert Forest, Gretchen and Jay Jordan, Anne L. Kaplan, Liz and Eric Lefkofsky, Jennifer and Alec Litowitz, and Phillips.

Generous support is contributed by the Joyce Foundation; the Bluhm Family; Robert J. Buford; Ellen-Blair Chube; Efroymson Family Fund; Denise and Gary Gardner; Susie L. Karkomi and Marvin Leavitt; Kovler Family Foundation; The Bellick Family; Nickol and Darrel Hackett; Vicki and Bill Hood; Katie and Billy Hutchens; Susan D. Goodman and Rodney Lubeznik; Anna Lee; Cheryl Mayberry McKissack and Eric McKissack; Catherine Ross and Chris Liguori; Les Coney, Mesirow; and Heiji and Brian Black.

Lead Community Engagement Partner is Northern Trust.

Lead Education Partner is The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation

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

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