The farewell to "EM PTY GALLERY" by Off-White™

A EMPTY GALLERY from Off-White was not just a store; it was a landmark in the fusion of fashion, art, and cultural experience. Created by Virgil Abloh and opened in 2017 in SoHo, New York, it symbolized the designer's multidisciplinary approach, who always saw streetwear beyond traditional consumption. Its recent closure represents not just the end of a physical space but also a moment of transition for the legacy of Off-White and the impact Abloh left on the global creative scene.

We delve a little into the vision behind the EMPTY GALLERY and how its closure impacts culture. Check it out below:

THE VISION BEHIND THE EMPTY GALLERY

The name "EMPTY" already indicated a concept: an open space for interpretations and transformations. Abloh was obsessed with contexts and narratives, and the idea behind the gallery was to function as a hybrid between store, art gallery, and event space, challenging the conventional retail model.

While many brands sought more immersive stores, Abloh went further: he created a place where products were not just sold but contextualized within an artistic environment. The concept aligned with his belief that fashion and contemporary art could coexist organically. This thinking is evident in his frequent collaboration with visual artists and the way he redefined cultural objects and symbols.

THE INFLUENCE ON FASHION AND STREETWEAR

The EMPTY GALLERY was one of the first concept stores to incorporate the idea of a cultural experience within streetwear. Before it, few brands approached street fashion with such artistic depth. Off-White was already a reference in high-street fashion, and the gallery helped consolidate this position.

• Intersection of fashion and art: The gallery hosted exhibitions by artists such as Lucien Smith and Takashi Murakami, in addition to hosting Off-White events that mixed performance, music, and design.

• Storytelling approach: The space not only sold products but narrated stories through the design of the environment and cultural activations.

• New approach to retail: At a time when e-commerce was growing, the EMPTY GALLERY proved that physical retail still had space – as long as it was reinvented.

The influence of this model can be seen in brands like 1017 ALYX 9SM, by Matthew Williams, and in the way Louis Vuitton, under Abloh's direction, worked physical spaces more artistically.

EXHIBITIONS AND ACTIVATIONS

The gallery stood out for hosting a series of exhibitions and activations that integrated fashion, art, and culture in an innovative way. Among the notable events held in the space, the following stand out:

• "ANOTHER FIRST SHOW" (2017): This exhibition provided the public with a detailed view of the Spring/Summer 2018 Off-White™ collection, previously presented on the Milan runway. Organized by Piotr Niepsuj, the show transformed the gallery into a museum-like environment, showcasing technical outerwear pieces, directional sportswear, transparent fabrics, and striking accessories such as industrial belts. Additionally, models of footwear like the "Off-Court" and the collaboration with Vans were presented.

• "FRIENDS" by Lucien Smith (2018): This was Lucien Smith's first solo exhibition at the EMPTY GALLERY, featuring a series of portraits based on photographs taken with an iPhone, depicting the artist's close friends. The show also included exclusive Off-White™ t-shirts printed with one of the paintings, along with a live music presentation during the opening.

• Tie-Dye Workshop with Ev Bravado (2019): Off-White™ collaborated with designer Everard Best of Ev Bravado to offer a tie-dye workshop at the EMPTY GALLERY. During the event, Best customized selected pieces of Off-White™ clothing and footwear, which were made available for purchase for a limited time.

THE CLOSURE AND WHAT IT MEANS

The closure of the EMPTY GALLERY in 2025 marks an important change for Off-White. Since the death of Virgil Abloh in 2021, the brand has undergone a redefinition of identity, seeking to maintain its relevance without the creator. The closure can be interpreted as part of this reformation, but it also reflects a new moment for luxury streetwear, where digital experience and new forms of engagement begin to surpass the model of physical concept stores.

Furthermore, it symbolizes the end of a cycle of experimentation that defined the 2010s in streetwear – a time when artistic collaborations, the concept of exclusivity, and the fusion of fashion and culture reached a new level.

THE LEGACY

The EMPTY GALLERY leaves a powerful legacy: that a brand can be more than a product – it can be a living cultural space. This concept continues to inspire luxury brands, independent designers, and even large conglomerates, showing that fashion and art will always walk hand in hand.

With the closure of the gallery, the question that remains is: what will be the next move of Off-White?