At The Brooklyn Museum, Virgil Abloh Celebrators Gathered for the Exhibition Opening of “Figures of Speech”

Last night The Brooklyn Museum welcomed friends and fans of the late designer Virgil Abloh to view his posthumous exhibition “Figures of Speech.” The festivities sponsored by Nordstrom were filled with designers and artists who had a collaborative relationship with Abloh. The exhibition, curated by Antwuan Sargent, represents the artist as the ultimate multi-hyphenate and visionary. Guests could be spotted every which way, admiring one era of Abloh to the next.

At the heart of the curation is a life-size wood house titled Social Sculpture, where singer Ian Isiah performed through the night to a flock of fashion aficionados. Amongst the attendees were Shannon Abloh, Heron Preston, Tyler Mitchell, Jeremy O. Harris, Tremaine Emory, Dao-Yi Chow, and CFDA President CaSandra Diggs. In honoring Abloh’s legacy, young Black artists also stood proudly throughout the space, many of whom felt directly supported by the late designer.

There wasn’t a single space in the museum that didn’t have its own DJ—a nod to Abloh’s own DJ pursuits. On display, curator Sargent showcased the official cease and desist the designer received from the United Nations to stop displaying the UN emblem on his vinyl records and music materials.

Abloh holds many titles, but the top of mind is always “designer of progress.” His career was a commitment to trial and error. And his support of emerging talent, specifically Black youth, is a remarkable testament to setting an example. The ongoing works of Abloh have already surpassed his wondrous lifetime and will continue to inspire artists to “question everything,” a phrase often used by Abloh himself.

Virgil Abloh’s “Figures of Speech” will be open to the public from July 1-Jan 29, 2023.