An Artist Was Here
“Everything I do is for the 17 year old version of myself.” -Virgil Abloh
While talent exists in endless places and extends to every corner of the earth, people who have the title of “pioneer” are few and far between. The world of creativity lives in that of the subjective; concepts such as aesthetic, art, and style have no objectivity and no rules. It makes one wonder how creative visionaries are able to see into such a world with no rules: only a blank canvas with which the artist can do whatever they choose.
Many create and do it well. However, few people break the very foundations of the world of which they create for. Few can reach across boundaries and pull them together in a way that we would call art. This is what a true pioneer is; in short, someone who is the first to make something in a way that it has never been made. This is the talent of a genius who can create and make it reachable for everyone. This was, is, and will continue to be Virgil Abloh.
Fashion as an industry can be a pretentious one. It can feel like an exclusive group of people that claims only those of upscale taste and class can even begin to understand it. Abloh, the late men’s artistic director of Louis Vuitton, was insistent on breaking this boundary and did it with ease. He understood that art is for everybody, not just a select few. This started with bridging the divide between streetwear, which is considered by some as “low fashion” in the world of luxury. This is apparent in his collections for Louis Vuitton that are abundant with streetwear influences, yet executed by a top high fashion house. It was under his direction that Louis Vuitton had its first collaboration with Nike, the first collaboration of its kind at the brand.
However, Abloh’s genius extends far beyond his time at Louis Vuitton. In addition to innovating at his own fashion house, Off-White. Off-White, along with brands like Supreme and A Bathing Ape, were crucial in the foundation of streetwear’s transformation into a luxury concept. In addition to fashion as a mode of art, Abloh was a designer in other mediums. Abloh is responsible for the cover art of numerous iconic albums, including Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” and “Yeezus” amongst many others. In fact, he received a Grammy nomination for his work for the cover art of West and Jay-Z’s collaborative album, “Watch the Throne”. It is apparent that Virgil was not only effective in reaching an audience, but reaching them beyond a single scope.
It is one thing to bring a vision to life, but to bring opposite genres of art together in a way where they meld seamlessly is a different matter altogether. This is making a new kind of art, one that will pave the way for generations of creatives to come. Abloh was specifically passionate about the next era of artists, and the world that they would create in. If there was anyone who proved that art has no limits, it was Virgil. Abloh’s last collection debuted posthumously on January 20th and featured the wide array of dreamlike, pastel streetwear elements that were signatures of the designer. The collection, along with all of his part work for Louis Vuitton, serve as proof that there are no limits to what luxury can be. An artist was here, and consider the road for future art not only paved, but widened to an extent we cannot fathom.
Written by: Aubrey Matson, Photography: Esha Uddaraju, Social Media: Sudiksha Pai & Mia Coppola