Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See all 13 images

Follow the Author

Michael Darling

Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech Hardcover – May 28, 2019

by Michael Darling (Editor), Rem Koolhaas (Contributor), Taiye Selasi (Contributor),

506 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Hardcover

"Please retry"

—

Hardcover
from $798.00

1 Collectible from $798.00

One of The New York Times Best Entertaiment Gifts of 2019
New York Magazine's Most Giftable Coffee-Table Books of 2019

From street fashion to high culture, the work of Virgil Abloh, a celebrated multihyphenate artist, is showcased in this book.

For Abloh, the museum catalogue is another opportunity to "question everything." This monograph, produced in close collaboration with the artist himself, explores his creative output in a three-books-in-one format. The catalogue section offers an overview of Abloh's interdisciplinary practice by Michael Darling and features essays and interviews with key voices in art, fashion, design, and architecture, including Taiye Selasi, Lou Stoppard, Michael Rock, Samir Bantal, Rem Koolhaas, and Anja Aronowsky Cronberg. In the archives section, more than 1,800 never-before-seen images pulled from the artist's personal files reveal the remarkable breadth of his influences and collaborations. And the index cross references the catalogue plates--Abloh's works--with his projects and process, using a vocabulary of themes developed by Abloh. This book is designed with Swiss binding. When opened the front cover lays completely flat and is not attached to the front pages of the book. The binding also intentionally exposes the spine of the bound book and the raw boards used for the case (cover).

Published with Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Print length

496 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Prestel
Publication date

May 28, 2019
Dimensions

9.31 x 1.88 x 12.25 inches
ISBN-10

379135857X
ISBN-13

978-3791358574
See all details

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Virgil Abloh
185
Hardcover
in Design & Decorative Arts
14 offers from $59.99
Monica Ramirez-Montagut
658
Hardcover
52 offers from $33.42
Supreme
272
Hardcover
34 offers from $27.34
Eleanor Nairne
774
Hardcover
28 offers from $16.33
Virgil Abloh
29
Hardcover
in Wedding Gowns
15 offers from $11.21
James Jebbia
260
Hardcover
52 offers from $28.49

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Virgil Abloh
185
Hardcover
in Design & Decorative Arts
14 offers from $59.99
Monica Ramirez-Montagut
658
Hardcover
52 offers from $33.42
Tom Ford
4,583
Hardcover
in Design History & Criticism
39 offers from $69.25
Eleanor Nairne
774
Hardcover
28 offers from $16.33
Supreme
272
Hardcover
34 offers from $27.34
Gunner Stahl
985
Hardcover
59 offers from $4.34

Special offers and product promotions

Create your FREE Amazon Business account to save up to 10% with Business-only prices and free shipping.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The show’s hefty, excellent catalog embraces this spirit, deploying a titillating level of detail."–The New York Times

"When Virgil Abloh breathes, his CO2 is practically up on eBay the next day — so we imagine his new book, Figures of Speech... won’t be long for this world." –New York Magazine

"Figures of Speech is packed with 1,932 images and a number of essays which discuss race, contemporary art history, streetwear and more. Altogether, the Prestel-produced book spans 496 pages and features a fittingly minimalist hardback cover."–HypeBeast

"...the object that is really worth coveting is the book. More than a simple catalog it’s a 500 page User’s Manual to his career." –Core77

“Expect it to fly off the shelves like freshly baked cookies” —Buro

“Designer and creative director Virgil Abloh has a new coffee table book you'll want to make space for in your living room. A particularly cool addition to your coffee table or bookshelf..." –AIROWS

About the Author

MICHAEL DARLING is James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator at the MCA Chicago.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Prestel (May 28, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 496 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 379135857X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-3791358574
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.31 x 1.88 x 12.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #5,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2 in Furniture Design (Books)
- #3 in Collections, Catalogs & Exhibitions
- #5 in Individual Artist Monographs

Customer Reviews:
506 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		89%
4 star		7%
3 star		1%
2 star		1%
1 star		2%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

“product review”

Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2019

Verified Purchase

Great book at great price. Shows works with off white, Louis Vuitton, other collaborations, etc. Would recommend for anyone

15 people found this helpful

Helpful

Qwerty

Don’t buy

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2019

Verified Purchase

I just gave this to my son as a gift the other day, had it in a drawer for almost 2 months prior waiting for present time, already warped and falling apart. Pretty dissatisfying. He literally has looked at it twice since and then this happened. Don’t recommend at all. I don’t see an option to exchange or return either. It made me choose one star. I give zero

11 people found this helpful

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Great insight into the behind the scenes

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2019

Verified Purchase

The book is dominated by pictures showing his work and inspirations, but Virgil also includes great written insight into the thought process behind some of his creations. I thought it was so cool to look through his early sketchbook drawings and school assignments, and then hear his take on them and why they shaped his perception of the world today. Despite knowing the level of success Virgil has achieved in his career, the inclusion of his early stage work made everything he's done seem realistically achievable with the right work ethic, and it left me feeling very inspired.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

+EMERY_JONES

+INSPIRATION✨

Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2019

Verified Purchase

I’m enjoying this book & reading it like a novel while treating it like a text book... I’m throughly inspired every time I sit down with this book,,, +THANX_VIRGIL✨

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kevin Appiah Kubi

10/10

Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2019

Verified Purchase

A must have book for anyone who is a fan of Virgil Abloh and his creative endeavors over the years. 10/10

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Damarea

Buy now!

Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2019

Verified Purchase

Cheat codes. A nice look at Virgil’s cultural fingerprint and working style.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

GalacticZak

A Great Gift

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2020

Verified Purchase

I got this as a gift for a friend. He was very excited to receive it. It’s heavy and full of photographs and information. Fans of fashion, art and/or Virgil Abloh would love this book.

Helpful

Derek K.

Virgil Abloh Fans check this out.

Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2019

Verified Purchase

If you are a fan of Virgil I highly recommend this book. Period.

One person found this helpful

Helpful