The Studio Museum in Harlem is set to reopen to the public on Saturday, November 15, after seven years of extensive renovations. The reopening will be celebrated with a major exhibition featuring the work of the late artist Tom Lloyd, known for his innovative use of electric light and contributions to the intersection of technology and art. The exhibition, titled “Tom Lloyd,” will showcase 20 years of the artist’s career and pay homage to his groundbreaking work.
In addition to the Tom Lloyd exhibition, the museum will also feature a rotating thematic installation of artworks from its permanent collection, an exhibition of works on paper by over 100 alumni of its Artist-in-Residence program, and a show of archival photographs and ephemera tracing the museum’s nearly six-decade history. New commissions by artists Camille Norment and Christopher Myers will be displayed alongside iconic works like David Hammons’s “Untitled (African American Flag),” which was first exhibited outside the museum in 2004.
Established in 1968 to address the exclusion of Black artists from mainstream art institutions, the Studio Museum in Harlem has been a vital platform for artists of African descent on local, national, and international levels. The museum’s new seven-floor, 82,000-square-foot building, located on West 125th Street, has undergone a significant expansion of its programming venues, artist studios, and indoor and outdoor spaces. The renovation was led by Adjaye Associates, with Cooper Robertson serving as executive architect.
The reopening day will feature a series of community-centered programming, including art-making workshops and performances. Admission to the museum is “pay-what-you-wish,” with a suggested fee of $16 for adults. Children under 16 and care partners can enter for free, and admission fees will be waived on Sundays as part of the museum’s Studio Sunday programming. The museum will be open Wednesdays through Sundays, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays until 9pm.
The Studio Museum’s reopening signals a new chapter in its storied history, reaffirming its commitment to showcasing the work of artists of African descent and engaging with the community. The museum’s new exhibitions and programming promise to captivate and inspire visitors as they explore the rich cultural tapestry of African diasporic art.
