by Billie Rose Owen
The Louis Vuitton and Nike “Air Force 1” by Virgil Abloh exhibition has launched in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Free and open to the public, the immersive installation will run until May 31st, accompanied by temporary art installations scattered throughout the city. The installations encapsulate central aspects of the exhibition: Enlarged globes featuring the interlaced Louis Vuitton and Nike logos are planted in hubs like Domino Park, Grand Central, and Columbus Circle, and a gradient orange sculpture of a cruising skateboarder towers over onlookers in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
The indoor exhibition is stationed at the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse, transformed to display 47 bespoke editions of the Nike “Air Force 1” sneaker created by the late Virgil Abloh in partnership with Nike for Louis Vuitton, first presented as a part of the Spring-Summer 2022 Men’s Collection.
Each pair is presented in both physical and virtual form. The tangible sneakers are fastened onto the sides of erect, concrete-like columns of varying geometries – their placement mimicking footsteps in motion and cueing the Air Force 1’s legacy in breakdance culture – while their virtual replicas are captured as 3D holograms. Enveloped in misty blue lighting and cloud-like projections, a visitor may feel as if they are atop a heavenly cityscape found in Abloh’s imagination.
The exhibition not only offers a display of the shoes themselves but a portal into the underpinnings of Abloh’s creative process. A large-scale treehouse sits high among the reimagined skyscrapers and houses a replica of Abloh’s personally furnished atelier in Paris, acknowledging his dedication to artisanal craft and affinity to draw inspiration from childhood imagination.
In late June, 9 selected versions of the launch will be commercialized and offered globally in-store. Produced in Fiesso d’Artico, Venice by the Maison’s manufacturer, these editions unite Air Force 1’s traditional features with the luxury properties of Louis Vuitton and the eminent visual qualities of Abloh. Offered in mid-top and low-top models and imprinted with Louis Vuitton monogram, the selected versions will come in traditional all-white and all-black shades, as well as two-toned versions in white and either green, red or blue, signaling Abloh’s signature multi-color designs. The selection will also include standouts of metallic gold that pay homage to Ablo’s debut collection for the Maison, and a model with Azur graffiti print created by artist Ghusto Leone.
The Greenpoint exhibition is complete with inspiring quotes by the designer displayed in large-scale print throughout the exhibition. A particularly attentive viewer may also notice the quote “Dream Now.” printed on a water tower across the street from the venue. Upon viewing an exhibition that emanates strong notions of unity, humanity, and legacy, one would most certainly be inspired to.
Louis Vuitton and Nike ”Air Force 1”: Launch
