Suited and wearing his best kicks, Ari Serrano was one of the many guests who stood in line outside the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse in Brooklyn for the first exhibit celebrating the work of the late Virgil Abloh Saturday. 

“Got the crazy Louis on, this is a suitcase that I had,” Serrano said, showing off his outfit. “I know Virgil was completely revolutionizing the Louis Vuitton brand.”

Abloh died of cancer last November. He was the artistic director of Louis Vuitton and used his platform to celebrate the historical influence of Black subcultures on mainstream fashion. He considered the Nike “Air Force 1” a cultural symbol in streetwear.

What You Need To Know

  • People joined lines outside a Greenpoint Terminal warehouse for the first day of an exhibit featuring the work of the late Virgil Abloh

  • Abloh died of cancer last November and was the artistic director of Louis Vuitton. He used his platform to celebrate the historical influence of Black subcultures on mainstream fashion

  • The exhibit inside showcases 47 bespoke editions of the Nike Air Force 1 sneakers created by Abloh in partnership with Nike for Louis Vuitton

  • Guests experienced an immersive display where they enter a dreamlike fantasy space which included 35 holograms of each Air Force 1 style

“If there was a picture of a shoe that Nike could put in a dictionary, it would probably be the AF1, Air Force 1’s — I love it, it’s a huge staple in culture,” Serrano said.

John Sinclair traveled from Connecticut with his girlfriend. He said the exhibit was something he couldn’t miss.

“I’m following the Black men in the industry very closely, because it shows that I can do it as well,” Sinclair said. “I’ve always been interested in footwear and fashion, so watching his rise from Pyrex off-white working with Kanye and coming up through the ranks and heading up LV men, it was inspiring.” 

The exhibit showcased 47 bespoke editions of the Nike Air Force 1 sneakers created by Abloh in partnership with Nike for Louis Vuitton. Guests experienced an immersive display where they enter a dreamlike fantasy space, which included 35 holograms of each Air Force 1 style.

“He’s a genius. I’ve never seen an event more like interactive and the colors are beautiful. The mood board is crazy. It’s Virgil, Louis and Nike — it doesn’t get much better,” Harper Scheinman said, enjoying the exhibit with his mother.

Scheinman is a graphic designer who came from Houston to check out the exhibit. He said Abloh’s work gives him hope for things he can create in the future.

“He did stuff that was so different and everyone — it just clicked,” Scheinman said.

John Sinclair spent about 40 minutes touring the space. He said it was an experience he will not forget.

“I mean, it was great. You got the clouds in the lit floors and everything, the giant globe, the Snapchat filters hidden, but just seeing the actual sneakers, they’re beautiful,” Sinclair said. “I’m feeling inspired honestly, like I want to go somewhere, do something. I just want to start drawing and creating right now.” 

The exhibit is free to the public through May 31.