Studio Museum Harlem Opens New Home

The Studio Museum in Harlem, a cornerstone institution celebrating art from the African diaspora, is opening its doors to a brand-new, purpose-built home. To mark this historic occasion, the museum is hosting a Community Day celebration on Saturday, November 15th, inviting everyone to experience its new space.

A Dream Realized: A New Home for Art

This magnificent seven-story, 82,000-square-foot building, designed by Adjaye Associates with Cooper Robertson as the executive architect, represents a significant milestone. It is the Studio Museum’s first purpose-built facility in its 57-year history, made possible by a remarkable fundraising campaign that garnered over $300 million. The museum’s leadership expressed deep gratitude to all who contributed to making this dream a reality.

Thelma Golden, Ford Foundation Director and the museum’s chief curator, stated, “With deep gratitude to our visionary founders, who dared to create the Studio Museum amid the ferment of 1968, and to all the Trustees, staff, campaign supporters, artists, curators, educators, architects, community members, and partners in the City of New York who have made the Studio Museum into what it is today, we welcome Harlem and all the world into the home we have dreamed of having.” She emphasized that the museum’s mission to champion artists of African descent remains as vital as ever, now amplified by their new, state-of-the-art building.

Community Day: A Celebration for All

The Community Day celebration on November 15th promises a day filled with art, culture, and engagement. Visitors will enjoy free admission, allowing them to explore the museum’s inaugural exhibitions. The day will also feature art-making workshops, live performances, games, giveaways, and DJ sets, creating a festive atmosphere for the entire community.

The festivities will extend into the following day with the premiere of “Studio Sundays.” This new weekly program will offer free, family-friendly activities, including art workshops, guided tours, gallery talks, and storytime sessions, ensuring ongoing community access and enrichment.

Inaugural Exhibitions Showcase Diverse Artistic Legacies

The museum’s opening exhibitions are set to highlight a rich spectrum of artistic achievement. “From Now: A Collection in Context” will feature rotating displays from the museum’s extensive 9,000-piece permanent collection, spanning artists of African descent from the 1800s to the present. “From the Studio: Fifty-Eight Years of Artists in Residence” will showcase new works on paper by over 100 program alumni, fostering an intergenerational dialogue. Additionally, “To Be a Place” will offer an archival look at the museum’s nearly six-decade history through photographs and ephemera, tracing its evolution through significant cultural and political shifts. A major showcase of pioneering artist Tom Lloyd, featured in the museum’s very first exhibition in 1968, will also be presented.

Founded in 1968 by artists and activists, the Studio Museum closed its previous 125th Street location in 2018 to commence construction on its new home. The state-of-the-art facility boasts expansive galleries, a spacious lobby, flexible program areas, and a dedicated Education Workshop, all designed to deepen community engagement and enhance the museum’s service to artists, visitors, and Harlem itself. The new space significantly increases exhibition areas, doubles the size of the artist-in-residence program, and expands public spaces by 60%.