The Royal College of Art (RCA) and The Virgil Abloh Foundation are pleased to announce the launch of RCA Virgil Abloh Scholarship 2024. This full scholarship, which includes maintenance support, is dedicated to exceptionally talented Black British students with financial need who are enrolled in programs within the School of Design.
Virgil Abloh, who passed away in 2021, was a multifaceted African American creator—a fashion designer, artist, architect, engineer, creative director, DJ, and entrepreneur. He was notably the first African American to serve as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection. Additionally, he was the founder of the Milan-based fashion house Off-White and the London studio Alaska Alaska, which was staffed by a diverse team of young, multi-disciplinary creators, personally selected by Abloh.
Image courtesy of RCA and The Virgil Abloh Foundation
About RCA Virgil Abloh Scholarship
In 2020, Virgil joined the RCA as an Honorary Visiting Professor, establishing a close and impactful relationship with the College. He embodied the RCA’s values of collaboration and innovation, aiming to share his extensive experience as a leading figure in global fashion and design with students across the institution. Although his time with the College was brief, his influence was profound. This scholarship honours Virgil’s dedication to education, his commitment to using his practice for social change, and his lifelong advocacy for equal opportunities in the creative industries.
The annual RCA Virgil Abloh Scholarship is open to all postgraduate programs within the RCA School of Design, including Fashion, Textiles, Design Products, Service Design, and Intelligent Mobility, among other cutting-edge courses.
‘Virgil Abloh’s profound impact on design has influenced the approach of Black creatives worldwide, and his story continues to inspire me to push past limitations to maximise my potential. The extension of his legacy to the RCA Virgil Abloh Scholarship has granted me the incredible opportunity to study with intention and creative freedom at the world’s leading Art & Design University alongside exceptionally talented peers, whose diverse perspectives continually enrich my learning, and fuel my ambition to honour Virgil’s enduring legacy.’ – Oghenerume Egbeniyoko, Virgil Abloh Scholar 2023 and RCA MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering student
Last year, the Virgil Abloh Scholarship was awarded to Oghenerume Egbeniyoko, who continues to receive support as he enters his second year in the RCA’s MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering program. The RCA and The Virgil Abloh Foundation are proud to announce that this year’s scholarship has been awarded to MA Textiles student Tyreis Holder, who will begin their studies in the next academic year.
‘Virgil Abloh is a creative visionary, who empowered and inspired a generation of Black youth to embrace the limitless potential of their creativity and where it can take you. Being awarded this scholarship is a real honour, I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to further refine my art practice by pushing the boundaries of my creativity, to honour my Caribbean heritage and textiles roots, and contribute to the community with recognition from the Virgil Abloh Foundation.’ – Tyreis Holder, Virgil Abloh Scholar 2024 and RCA MA Textiles student
The Virgil Abloh Scholarship has been established with the support of Shannon Abloh, the late designer’s wife, and is supported by The Virgil Abloh Foundation.
©2024 RCA, The Virgil Abloh Foundation
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