VIRGIL ABLOH’S CREATIVE LEGACY HONORED IN MAJOR PARIS EXHIBITION

This September, Paris Fashion Week will host “Virgil Abloh: The Codes”, the first major European exhibition dedicated to the late visionary designer. Set to open on September 30 (Abloh’s birthday) and run through October 10 at the Grand Palais, the show unfolds as an expansive tribute hosted by the Virgil Abloh Archive™ in partnership with Nike. 

“The Codes” spans approximately 13,350 square feet and features nearly 1,000 works selected from an archive of 20,000 items. Visitors can explore prototypes, sketches, unreleased projects, and personal artifacts, many of which have never been seen by the public before.

Curated by Chloe and Mahfuz Sultan, the exhibition aims to showcase the foundational principles that shaped Abloh’s creative universe. As curator Mahfuz Sultan explains, the show is a deeper exploration of the “codes” that informed Abloh’s cross-disciplinary practice, ranging from streetwear design to architecture, music, and branding.

The exhibition will be supported by Abloh’s widow, Shannon Abloh, and the foundation named after him. Shannon has mentioned that sharing his unfinished designs and design philosophy with the public is essential to keeping his influence alive for future creatives.

“The Codes” includes a full program of talks, workshops, screenings, and performances, all meant to extend Abloh’s spirit of collaboration and open access to ideas.