Kanye West checks out Virgil Abloh exhibit at MCA

Music superstar visits the first official museum exhibit featuring the work of his friend and collaborator.

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

Chicago’s MCA celebrates the work of Virgil Abloh in his debut exhibition

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.”