Kanye West takes in Virgil Abloh exhibit at MCA

Kanye West and Virgil Abloh share a humorous moment during a special private event at the MCA celebrating the opening of the exhibit “Virgil Abloh: ‘Figures of Speech.”

Going the distance to show your support is one key to a true friendship.

Kanye West did just that last Thursday, when he flew into Chicago to attend the pre-opening celebration of the ‘Virgil Abloh: ‘Figures of Speech’ exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art (it officially opened Monday).

Abloh and West go way back, to the artist/designer’s days as a grad student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where in 2002 the two met. Abloh would go on to become West’s creative director.

After the duo attended a private dinner for the exhibits’ lenders/sponsors, Abloh walked West through the exhibit, a museum spokesperson said.

In addition, West, Abloh and Chicago artist Theaster Gates watched the incredibly powerful film “Love Is The Message, The Message Is Death,” by acclaimed artist and filmmaker Arthur Jafa in the museum’s “Prisoner of Love” exhibit, which features West’s song “Ultralight Beam.”

Kanye West is all smiles at a celebratory dinner in honor of his friend Virgil Abloh for the premiere of the exhibit “Virgil Abloh: ‘Figures of Speech” at the MCA on June 6, 2019.