The Grand Palais in Paris is currently hosting "Virgil Abloh: The Codes," the first major European exhibition dedicated exclusively to the work of the groundbreaking designer who passed away in 2021. Running from September 30 - Abloh's birthday - through October 9, this comprehensive retrospective explores nearly two decades of the multidisciplinary creator's revolutionary work through an exclusive partnership between the Virgil Abloh Archive and Nike.

The exhibition coincides with Paris Fashion Week's spring-summer 2026 women's shows, serving as a powerful reminder of Abloh's status as one of the most influential creative forces of the 21st century. The Virgil Abloh Archive, containing over 20,000 objects spanning fashion, design, music, art, and advertising, includes original works, prototypes, sketches, digital media, and ephemeral documents alongside pieces from the designer's personal collection and library. The archive's mission is to keep Abloh's ideas alive and make his work accessible to those seeking to study and build upon his innovative concepts.

Born in the United States in 1980, Virgil Abloh wore many hats throughout his career: artist, architect, engineer, creative director, designer, and DJ. After earning a civil engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin, he obtained a master's degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he learned modernist design principles and multidisciplinary work concepts. He founded his brand Off-White in 2013, which began showing at Paris Fashion Week in 2015. His distinctive style reflected street culture through sneakers and sweatshirts, along with high-profile collaborations with Nike, Jimmy Choo, and Moncler.

Abloh's work resonated deeply with popular music icons, including Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky, as well as Kanye West, who made him his personal artistic advisor. His achievements were recognized with numerous awards, including Urban Luxe at the British Fashion Awards and International Designer of the Year at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in 2017. His work was exhibited at major design institutions worldwide, and in 2018, this American creator of Ghanaian origin became one of the few Black artistic directors at a luxury fashion house when he joined Louis Vuitton.

"This exhibition is just the beginning of our work to share Virgil's legacy and principles with the creative community and the world at large. Through the Archive site, Virgil will remain a source of inspiration and a beacon of creative knowledge," stated Shannon Abloh, CEO of Virgil Abloh Securities and President of Virgil Abloh Archive.

Curated by Chloé Sultan and Mahfuz Sultan, the exhibition traces how Abloh's characteristic design principles - his "codes" - appear throughout his work in clothing, footwear, architecture, music, and advertising. It also highlights his collaborations with various artists, designers, and athletes. Interestingly, the retrospective begins with visitors walking through a recreation of the famous Parisian concept store Colette, perhaps as a nod to how his collections were frequently sold out.

The concept store, which has reopened its doors specifically for this event, offers new products designed by Abloh's closest collaborators for sale. Sarah Andelman, who has brought her iconic boutique back to life, has also selected key items, including a reissue of the Virgil Abloh X Braun collaboration and the French translation of Larry Warsh's book "Abloh-isms."

"It's an honor to present two decades of Virgil's work in Paris. This exhibition at the Grand Palais is something of a return to roots, a love letter to the city that inspired him most and shaped much of his practice. This exhibition represents the first chapter," declared Mahfuz Sultan, director of the Virgil Abloh Archive.

Spread across two floors in rooms with soaring ceilings, the exhibition prominently features his long-standing partnership with Nike, sharing the design methodologies that were central to his creative identity. The introduction, presented in English without translation, opens into what resembles a grand flagship store where racks of multicolored T-shirts, numerous pairs of sneakers, and bags of various sizes are displayed on large wooden tables and metal shelving. However, visitors cannot touch or try on items - this is, after all, a museum experience.

Throughout the exhibition journey, Nike organizes roundtable discussions with partners, designers, and Nike athletes. A series of publications, including dialogues, workshops, performances, and screenings, accompany the exhibition. On the upper floor, visitors discover an extraordinarily long wall displaying neatly arranged sneakers in flashy tones, alongside another shelf showcasing an accumulation of accessories including belts and caps.

"The codes are the soul of Virgil's legacy; they are at the heart of the Archive site. The codes tell the story of creative intention and archival practice that shaped Virgil's identity. They guide us, reminding us that collectivity and accessibility must be at the center of our collaborations and expressions - this is how we keep his legacy alive," stated Athiththan Selvendran, Creative Director of the Virgil Abloh Foundation and Director of Virgil Abloh Archive.

The Virgil Abloh Foundation, serving as the philanthropic arm of Virgil Abloh Securities, creates more equitable and inclusive spaces for underrepresented young creatives, cultural leaders, and agents of change. This mission reflects Abloh's lifelong commitment to democratizing fashion and design, making high-level creativity accessible to diverse communities and fostering the next generation of innovative thinkers.