Virgil Abloh, a visionary in art, fashion, and design is celebrated globally, but his roots remain firmly grounded at Boylan Catholic High School in northwest Rockford, Illinois, 90 miles outside of Chicago. Abloh graduated from the school in 1998, and it’s the location of an art exhibit featuring designs by students who are inspired walking the same hallways as Abloh did 25 years ago.
The exhibit opened today with a ceremony featuring Abloh’s parents, friends and former soccer coach. Boylan Catholic High School art students created pieces inspired by the many facets of Abloh’s life, exploring his influence in areas ranging from fashion to engineering, reflecting the innovation and diversity for which Abloh is remembered.
“This exhibition is a testament to Virgil Abloh’s lasting impact on the fashion industry and on our students,” said Amy Ott, Boylan’s president. “His contributions to the fashion, art, and design world continue to inspire creativity and passion among our young artists.” Abloh died from cancer in 2021 at the age of 41.
Highlights of the exhibit include:
- Over 50 Student Works: Featuring a range of artistic mediums, including digital designs, 3D engineering models, and traditional artworks.
- Video Tribute: A video loop of Abloh discussing his body of work and artistic philosophy.
- Exclusive Photos and Memorabilia: Including images from Abloh’s time at Boylan, his visit with Boylan students to the Nike Imagination Lab in 2019, and his parents’ acceptance of the Boylan Distinguished Alumni Award on his behalf.
As part of the exhibition honoring Virgil Abloh, Missy Minardi, Boylan alum and current Boylan art teacher, has designed and is creating a mural that will serve as a permanent tribute to Abloh’s legacy at Boylan Catholic High School. The mural, while still in progress, will be a large- scale piece reflecting elements of Abloh’s life, work, and contributions to the arts. It will incorporate dynamic visual themes from his Off White designs, his work with brands like Nike and Louis Vuitton, and key milestones from his time as a student at Boylan.
“Virgil Abloh’s creative vision continues to resonate with our students and community. He showed us that there are no boundaries when it comes to expressing yourself through art, fashion, or design,” said Minardi. “His journey from Boylan to global success has inspired generations of artists to push the limits of what’s possible.”
Virgil Abloh’s remarkable career spanned numerous fields, including art, fashion, design, architecture, music, and philanthropy. His meteoric career included collaborations with Nike and the founding of his own brand, Off White. In 2018 he became the first African American to be artistic director at a French luxury fashion house when he took over men’s ready to wear at Louis Vuitton.
Abloh’s generosity toward Boylan is well documented, from donating Off White soccer uniforms to the school’s varsity team in 2018 and offering exclusive insights to art and engineering students during their 2019 visit to his Nike Lab in Chicago.
Additional viewing of the exhibit will be held November 3, 2024, during the school’s Open House from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The school is located at 4000 St. Francis Drive, Rockford, IL 61103.
The exhibit can also be opened on a case-by-case basis, upon request. Admission to the exhibit is free and open to the public.