Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech

by Michael Darling (Editor), Rem Koolhaas (Contributor), Taiye Selasi (Contributor)

From street fashion to high culture, the work of Virgil Abloh, a celebrated multihyphenate artist, is showcased in this book.

For Abloh, the museum catalogue is another opportunity to “question everything.” This monograph, produced in close collaboration with the artist himself, explores his creative output in a three-books-in-one format. The catalogue section offers an overview of Abloh’s interdisciplinary practice by Michael Darling and features essays and interviews with key voices in art, fashion, design, and architecture, including Taiye Selasi, Lou Stoppard, Michael Rock, Samir Bantal, Rem Koolhaas, and Anja Aronowsky Cronberg. In the archives section, more than 1,800 never-before-seen images pulled from the artist’s personal files reveal the remarkable breadth of his influences and collaborations. And the index cross references the catalogue plates–Abloh’s works–with his projects and process, using a vocabulary of themes developed by Abloh. It comes in a cloth slipcase with “Personal Copy” silkscreened on the book fore edge, a measuring tape ribbon marker, and a flexi disc printed with a Juergen Teller photo that includes a recording of Virgil Abloh discussing his inspirations. This book is designed with Swiss binding. When opened the front cover lays completely flat and is not attached to the front pages of the book. The binding also intentionally exposes the spine of the bound book and the raw boards used for the case (cover).

Genres: Art, Fashion, Design, Nonfiction, Collections, Coffee Table Books

496 pages, Hardcover

Published October 16, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Leandro Aalto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A guide and a gigantic source of inspiration. Virgil work is beyond extraordinary and at the same time accessible, common, if that makes any sense. This book helped me understand the concept of being a “curator” in the design practice. It’s an eye opening for anyone who is dabbling with different possibilities in creative fields -and example of how pursuing many interests and a “generalist” approach to design can be a viable option.

[Kyle]

"So I always envisioned the book as a tombstone: if set up on end, it could mimic the death of the initial body of work. No longer having to give context or to post about, 'This was that and I was working with this and no one thought I could be that to do this.'"

[Hakeem · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite worldly possessions

[Saurav Tuladhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book - thank you Virgil

[Noah Blaine Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Not many words to say, other than that I’m inspired immensely to create. Not only that, but to understand why I’m doing it and how it affects people.

[Gilberto Ramiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

“That’s what is important about this conversation, us buttoning this up. We’re collectively crafting this narrative, and it’ll end, and that allows me to start a new chapter. This has been a long formulating of data, of opinion, of knowledge. If it continues without an exhibition, without a book - or text to catalogue it - then it’ll spiral off and go into some bad work, as all things do. It needs to be encapsulated and needs to be put in a format. Then other people can digest it, reject it, understand it, and then I can 2.0 it.

[Ronnie Fairley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Artwork book focuses on Virgil Abloh's work from 1980 to 2019. The book is a great look back to see all the designs released and unreleased that Virgil created. Whether it was clothes, posters, set pieces, album covers, or more, it is fascinating to look at a person who was such a creative genius in their space. I could tell he was obsessed and passionate about his work. He is very inspiring.

[Dalton Bidula]

This book is a view into Virgil's mind as a designer who worked with a variety of people/groups like Kanye to Nike. This behind the scenes view on how virgil brainstorms. If interested in fashion, I would recommend reading about this tastemaker!

[Julian Amezcua · Rating 5 out of 5]

fye

[Jordan Sitterud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely inspiring. Great look into the BTS of Virgil, his career and his work. An amazing man.

[Mason Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super inspiring.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A design Bible. Some theory, so practical.

[Vladimir Pisin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational, Direct, Casual, Complex.

[Brock Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly miss this man, Virgil is one of my biggest inspirations in art and life.

[^.^ · Rating 5 out of 5]

VIRGIL WAS HERE

[Chalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all creatives. Truly inspirational, enough said.