Virgil Abloh: a monumental exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris
From September 30 to October 10, 2025, the Grand Palais hosts “Virgil Abloh: The Codes”, an immersion into the multidisciplinary world of the designer who has turned luxury codes on their head.
Four years after his death, Virgil Abloh remains a key figure in contemporary design. From streetwear to Louis Vuitton, Off-White and multiple collaborations with Nike, IKEA and Evian, he has left an indelible creative mark. In Paris, the city that saw him shine on the catwalks, an unprecedented archival exhibition pays tribute to him: “The Codes“, on view at the Grand Palais from September 30 to October 10, 2025.
A posthumous project orchestrated by his loved ones
It was through the meticulous work of his former collaborators that this exhibition came into being. Since 2021, over 20,000 personal objects, garments, sketches, collaborations and unfinished projects have been collected and classified. These archives, scattered between Chicago, Milan, London and Paris, reveal the richness of the designer’s approach, who saw collecting as another form of storytelling.
Curated by Mahfuz Sultan and supported by Shannon Abloh (founder of the Virgil Abloh Foundation), the exhibition traces almost 20 years of multi-disciplinary creation, between fashion, art, design and popular culture.
A scenography conceived as a manifesto
“The Codes” is set to be a major cultural event in Paris in 2025. Much more than a retrospective, it’s a visual manifesto, paying tribute to a designer who brought together haute couture and urban culture, as well as architecture, music and sport.
Here we find the emblematic elements of Abloh’s universe: his Nike capsules, pieces from Louis Vuitton menswear shows, concert posters, furniture and prototypes from his graphic research. Each object, each fragment, bears witness to a hybrid style, on the border betweencontemporary art and social commentary.
A bridge between heritage and youth
Virgil Abloh, born in 1980 in Rockford (Illinois), son of Ghanaian immigrants, was the first black designer to head men’s design at Louis Vuitton. He embodies a generation of designers with cross-disciplinary backgrounds, trained in architecture or design, but nourished by music, skateboarding, blogs and counter-cultures. His inclusive, collaborative and youth-oriented vision is at the heart of this exhibition.
Paris, capital of a universal tribute
Following “Coming of Age” at the Fondation Louis Vuitton and “Figures of Speech” at the Brooklyn Museum, this exhibition is part of a series of international events dedicated to the artist. Paris, fashion capital of the world, becomes the stage for his ultimate comeback.
Practical information
📍 Grand Palais – Paris
📅 From September 30 to October 10, 2025
🎟️ Free admission or by reservation (to be confirmed)
🎨 Curated by Mahfuz Sultan
💼 Organized with the support of the Virgil Abloh Foundation and in partnership with Nike
🌍 More info at: www.grandpalais.fr
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