Virgil Abloh: The soul of a generation lives on in Paris with The Codes
Address: Le Grand Palais (Paris)
Hours: From 30 September to 9 October (2025)
A sensorial, conceptual and emotional journey through the legacy of the creator who redefined the codes of contemporary culture.
Paris, Autumn 2025. The French capital once again becomes the epicentre of global creativity with the opening of “Virgil Abloh: The Codes”, the first major European exhibition dedicated exclusively to the work of the visionary designer and multidisciplinary artist.
Organised by the Virgil Abloh Archive™, in collaboration with Nike and supported by the Virgil Abloh Foundation, the exhibition will run from 30 September to 9 October at Le Grand Palais — symbolically coinciding with the anniversary of Abloh’s birth.
A living archive for an eternal legacy
At the heart of this exhibition beats more than 20,000 objects that make up the Virgil Abloh Archive™: sketches, prototypes, garments, images, installations, personal documents, unique pieces and historic collaborations. Curated by Chloe Sultan and Mahfuz Sultan, the show reconstructs Abloh’s world both visually and emotionally, unravelling the “codes” that guided his work: accessibility, collaboration, cultural reappropriation, cross-disciplinary practice and creative justice.
The Codes is not merely an exhibition — it is a manifesto. A silent cry that honours Virgil’s ability to turn every object into a political statement, every garment into a question, and every collaboration into a bridge between seemingly opposite worlds.
colette Reborn: a Tribute within a Tribute
One of the most anticipated spaces in the exhibition is undoubtedly the recreation of the legendary concept store colette, brought back to life by its co-founder Sarah Andelman as a “living artwork and functional shop” inside Le Grand Palais.
This nostalgic yet futuristic corner will revive the inimitable spirit of colette, complete with exclusive merchandise designed by some of Abloh’s closest collaborators.
Among the objects available for purchase:
– A re-edition of Braun’s iconic BC02 alarm clock, reinterpreted by Abloh.
– A French-language version of Larry Warsh’s book Abloh-isms.
– Limited-edition apparel and accessories created by Travis Scott, Cactus Plant Flea Market, BEEN TRILL, SP5DER, GHE20G0TH1K, Futura Laboratories, L’Art de L’Automobile, Renell Medrano, and others.
Sarah Andelman summarises it beautifully: “I had the honour of working with Virgil for more than ten years. I hope to revive his vision and the spirit of colette through this project.”
The city that Inspired Virgil
Paris is no random choice. It was the city where Abloh presented his most iconic collections — both with Off-White and as Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton Men’s.
Le Grand Palais, an emblem of French artistic history and avant-garde spirit, becomes the perfect stage for this love letter to his legacy.
As Mahfuz Sultan, director of the archive, explains: “This exhibition is a homecoming. It represents the first chapter in a much larger mission — to share Virgil’s generous spirit with the world.”
The Codes experience
More than an exhibition, The Codes is an immersive experience that blends:
– Fashion: from the most coveted Nike x Off-White trainers to runway pieces from Louis Vuitton.
– Art & Design: interactive installations, reimagined everyday objects and conceptual furniture.
– Music: nods to Abloh’s work as a DJ and producer, and his influence on global urban culture.
– Advertising & Visual Culture: campaigns, logos, typography and acts of cultural rebranding.
A parallel programme of talks, performances, workshops and screenings will further explore the exhibition’s central themes.
Access, equity and education: The core of his legacy
All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Virgil Abloh Foundation, a non-profit organisation committed to transforming the creative industry from the ground up. Its programmes focus on training, mentorship and real opportunities for the next generation of underrepresented talent.
Ticket prices reflect this commitment: €15 for visitors over 26, €7 for ages 19–25, and free admission for under-18s, students and teachers.
Virgil Abloh: More than fashion
Abloh was never just a designer. He was an architect, DJ, visual artist, critical thinker, aesthetic activist and cultural revolutionary. He redefined what it means to be a “creative” in the 21st century and opened doors that once seemed impossible.
His work reminds us that to create is also to question, to include, to provoke, to educate — and to move.
The Codes stands as the purest materialisation of that philosophy.
Highly recommended.
(*) Images courtesy of HELLER.Inc.
