Virgil Abloh, visionary, creative director for Louis Vuitton and founder and CEO of Off-White, died Sunday at 41 from a rare form of cancer. Abloh made fashion history when he became the first black creative director for luxury brand Louis Vuitton.

The following statement was released via Abloh’s Instagram account after his passing.

“We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He is survived by his loving wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and numerous dear friends and colleagues. For over two years, Virgil valiantly battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma. He chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments, all while helming several significant institutions that span fashion, art, and culture.”

Abloh was such a valuable asset to Louis Vuitton not only for his versatile concepts but for tapping into a younger demographic the brand had not previously seen. The artistic director made ground-breaking moves to push boundaries between streetwear and high fashion, leaving no concept out of range.

Hollywood stars from Frank Ocean to Kanye West have mourned Abloh’s death. Ocean said in a tribute to his late friend that Abloh was “interested in living and living to the maximum extent of his level which proved to be impossible today because he was BEYOND.”

Kanye West dedicated his Sunday Service to Abloh, who was a very close friend to the artist. The choir gave a moving and sad performance which included Adele’s “Easy on Me” song. A message followed that read, “IN LOVING MEMORY OF VIRGIL ABLOH, THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF DONDA.” Abloh collaborated with Kanye on many projects, including most of Kanye’s album covers and acted as the creative director for Kanye’s design agency.

Abloh has been called one of fashion’s ‘most powerful black men,’ and he certainly lived up to the hype in an industry that gets called out for its’ lack of diversity. Virgil was among those named Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2018.

At 41, Virgil had accomplished more in life than what some people accomplish in their entire life. He was a creative director, an artist, a DJ, an architect and a revolutionary fashion icon. He collaborated with brands like Nike, Ikea, Levi’s and even the NBA. No matter how big of a project Virgil took on or how busy he was, he always made time for his family and friends. Those closest to him knew how serious he took his work, but being a good father was his number one priority. He radiated happiness and enthusiasm even during the darkest part of his life.

Virgil chose to keep his battle with cancer private and continued to power through his passion for work. In the weeks leading up to his unfortunate passing, he was putting the finishing touches on a fashion show that was helping to promote a new Louis Vuitton store opening in Miami, Florida.

The world is mourning the death of the trailblazer, and it is truly a devastating loss to anyone who had the pleasure of crossing paths with Virgil Abloh.