Virgil Abloh was more than a designer; he was a cultural force. He’s the one who, with Off-White, redefined the relationship between fashion and the world, collaborating with everyone from Nike to IKEA to Louis Vuitton. But one of the lesser-known facets of his genius is interior design. The interior, which has been dubbed the “Virgila Abloh house,” showcases his signature eclectic, forward-thinking design philosophy that aligns architecture with art and culture.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Virgil Abloh |
| Birth Date | September 30, 19801 |
| Death Date | November 28, 20211 |
| Age at Death | 41 |
| Nationality | American1 |
| Parents | Immigrants from Ghana |
| Spouse | Shannon Sundberg (married in 2009) |
| Children | Two |
| University | University of Wisconsin-Madison (BS in Civil Engineering, 2002) |
| Graduate School | Illinois Institute of Technology (Master’s in Architecture, 2006) |
| Beginnings | Creative director for Kanye West (2002)3; Intern at Fendi (2009) |
| 2010 | Appointed creative director of Kanye West’s creative agency, Donda |
| 2012 | Started Pyrex Vision1 |
| 2013 | Founded Off-White, a Milan-based fashion house1 |
| 2017 | Won the British Fashion Award for Urban Luxe Brand |
| 2018 | Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection1; Named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World |
| 2019 | Chosen to be on the board of the CFDA; Nominated for a CFDA Award for Menswear Designer of the Year (Off-White) |
| Accomplishments | Pioneer of high-end street fashion; One of the few Black people to lead a top fashion house2; First Black American to lead a French fashion house |
| Grammy Nomination | Art direction for Kanye and Jay-Z’s album, “Watch the Throne” (2011) |
| Brands | Pyrex Vision, Off-White1 |
| Collaborations | Nike, Ikea, Evian, Rimowa, Jimmy Choo, Sunglass Hut, McDonald’s |
| Other | Designed Serena Williams’ outfit for the 2018 U.S. Open2; Designed Hailey Bieber’s wedding gown |
| Cause | Cardiac angiosarcoma (a rare, aggressive form of cancer) |
| Battle | Privately battled cancer since 2019 |
Virgil Abloh: The Architect and Designer
Influences at an Early Age: The Framework for His Vision
Virgil Abloh’s path to fashion started in architecture. He graduated with a degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), at a time also studying beneath Chicago’s rich architectural legacy. His view of space, form and functionality was molded by IIT’s modernist-based curriculum. One of Abloh’s central influences was Mies van der Rohe, a progenitor of modern architecture. These underpinnings are reflected in his design approach, which favors clean lines, minimalism, and utilitarian beauty.
Design Philosophy: Merging High and Low Culture
Abloh was a boundary-less magician. His design ethos was about combining high-end luxury with street culture, a principle he sometimes described as “Everything in Quotes.” This form of ideation offers a new paradigm of understanding design, reframing what is deemed “high art” or “low art.” A sneaker, a chair, a house: Abloh treated everything as if it were a work of art itself, rife with relevance and narrative.
Featured Projects: A Glimpse of His Vision
Prior to immersing himself in the world of interior design, Abloh’s talents as an architect and artist were on display in a number of high-profile projects:
TWENTYTHIRTYFIVE for Vitra
This installation imagined a home in 2035, complete with bold colors, futuristic aesthetics and reimagined Jean Prouvé designs. It was a glimpse of a future that melded heritage with innovation.
Galerie Kreo Furniture
Abloh’s furniture for Galerie Kreo, inspired by brutalism, featured raw materials, concrete finishes and graffiti art. These works straddled the line between furniture and sculpture.
Work with Nike and IKEA
His partnership with Nike changed the sneaker world; his IKEA collection made high design affordable and accessible for everyday living spaces.
Transition to Interiors
Abloh’s architectural background and experimental sensibility easily translated into interior design. His interiors reflect his multidisciplinary genius, intersecting minimalism, brutalism and conceptual art. His home interiors transcend traditional living spaces and become immersive experiences that push the boundaries of what spaces can do and inspire.
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Virgil Abloh: House Interior Design Key Elements
We turn to the Virgil Abloh house, where soon the line between modernism, brutalism, and idealism blur. His spaces are not only beautiful; they are meant to evoke and to inspire.
- Minimalism and Modernism: The Technical Foundation of His Style
- Abloh’s interiors are predicated on modernist principles, starting with architects such as Mies van der Rohe.
Some Possibility: Clean Lines and Geometric Shapes
Everything within his interiors is intentional — made simple, through symmetry and order. There’s a focus on functional design, where every piece serves a purpose.
Open Spaces and Natural Light
Abloh liked open layouts that let light circulate. He frequently designs large windows in his interiors, which connect the inside with the outdoors.
The look continues for 2023: Neutral Colors with Bold Accents
His interiors are often muted, with neutral hues such as black, white and gray, but he would inject pops of color, or an unexpected work of art.
Abstract and Conceptual Art: Homes as Galleries
Abloh’s interiors are a nexus of living space and gallery. He frequently added abstract installations and nontraditional works.
“Paintings” with Phrases
His mantra was titled “Everything in Quotes” and he used text as art. On the walls, phrases that required viewers to consider what was beyond the cliche.
Unconventional Furniture
His furniture was as much about form as it was function, from cubic sponge chairs to lamp-shade stools to stacked concrete pieces. These aspects evoked his belief that interiors are meant to inspire creativity.
Brutalism and Urban Influences
His interiors reflected Abloh’s love of brutalist architecture and urban landscapes.
Furniture made of concrete and Raw Textures
He frequently employed raw materials like concrete, steel and stone to impart an industrial edge to his spaces. These brought the sleekness of modernism into balance with the ruggedness of urban design.
Graffiti and Street Art
A nod to his roots in street culture, Abloh added graffiti-inspired elements as though his spaces were alive and culturally relevant.
Personal Touches and Collaborations
With Abloh’s interiors, every piece told a story. He frequently infused personal touches, collaborations with brands and repurposed objects.
Off-White Designs as Decor
His spaces often featured pieces from his Off-White collections, merging his fashion and interior design universes.
Collaborative Creations
Whether a limited-edition IKEA rug or a custom Nike chair, his interiors echoed his signature approach of across-the-board collaboration.
Case Studies: Virgil Abloh’s Interior Design in Action
- To understand Abloh’s genius better, take a look at a few notable projects.
- Experiment 1: Abloh’s Home Capsule (Art Basel Miami)
- At Art Basel Miami, Abloh unveiled a conceptual home capsule that reinvented furniture design. It featured:
Foggler: A table with capabilities that challenges what you consider a flat surface and uses the grid structure to present objects.
- Cubic Sponge Chairs: Sculptural seating that crossed the line between art and furniture.
- Sculptural Installations: Abstract expressions using construction materials.
- These pieces encapsulated Abloh’s philosophy that furniture should stimulate the mind — not simply fulfill a role.
Case Study 2: Exhibition of Galerie Kreo
Abloh’s “Efflorescence” collection for Galerie Kreo featured furniture inspired by brutalism. Key features included:
- Graffiti Concrete Benches: A raw materiality/urban art interspersed with raw materiality.
- Mirrors with Round Cut Outs: Functional, but artsy.
- Skate Ramp Bench: A cheeky tribute to street culture.
Case Study 3: TWENTYTHIRTYFIVE for Vitra
- This expo imagined a home in the year 2035. Highlights included:
- Bold Color Palettes: Pinks, yellows, blues, reds against baseline tones.
- Reimagined Classics: Best known furniture pieces by Jean Prouvé seen by Abloh’s eyes.
- Forward-Thinking Concepts: The installation showcased Abloh’s aptitude for fusing tradition with modernity.
The X-Factor: Where Function Meets Form
Abloh’s interiors are not conventional homes — these are philosophical space that disrupt conceptions.
Abstract Dimension
Abloh’s often had an abstract dimension. A chair was no longer just a chair; it was a statement. These pieces prompted viewers to reconsider the function of familiar objects.
Inspirational Design
Abloh’s spaces were designed to encourage creativity. His interiors were like art galleries in which everything had been designed to stimulate thought.
Tourist and Purist Ideology
One of Abloh’s central tenets has been to satisfy the “tourist” and the “purist” — ensuring that his work is approachable to the newcomer and still interesting to the design-lover.
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