Studio Museum in Harlem

Studio Museum will reopen on Saturday 15 November with a free community day from 11am–9pm.

Founded in 1968 by a diverse group of artists, community activists and philanthropists, the Studio Museum in Harlem is internationally known for its catalytic role in promoting the work of artists of African descent. On 15 November, the museum will celebrate the public opening of its new seven-floor, 82,000-square-foot building on Manhattan’s West 125th Street, which replaces its former home.

Designed by Adjaye Associates in collaboration with Cooper Robertson, the purpose-built facility will enable the Studio Museum to better serve a growing and diverse audience, provide additional educational opportunities for people of all ages, expand its program of world-renowned exhibitions, effectively display its singular collection, and strengthen its trailblazing Artist-in-Residence program. The architectural design takes its inspiration from the brownstones, churches and bustling sidewalks of Harlem, and the state-of-the-art galleries and flexible program spaces are complemented by a rooftop terrace with striking views of the surrounding area.

The museum opens with a major exhibition of the work of Tom Lloyd, the innovative artist who was also the subject of the Studio Museum’s inaugural exhibition in 1968. A rotating installation of artworks from the museum’s permanent collection of nearly 9,000 artworks, spanning from the 19th century to present day, foregrounds the artistic achievements of artists of African descent. The museum will also display new works on paper from former members of the Artist-in-Residence program, plus a presentation of archival photographs and ephemera documenting the institution’s history.

^{Exterior view of the Studio Museum in Harlem’s new building. Courtesy of Studio Museum in Harlem. Photograph © Dror Baldinger FA. Tom Lloyd, “Narokan,” 1965. Studio Museum in Harlem, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Darwin K. Davidson 1988.3. Photograph by John Berens}