After a seven-year closure, The Studio Museum in Harlem has finally reopened its doors to the public with a brand-new building just blocks away from its original location. The internationally acclaimed institution, which began as a rented loft above an Uptown Manhattan liquor store in 1968, cut the ribbon on its new custom-built home this weekend, marking a significant milestone for Black art and culture in New York City.
The museum's origins trace back to a group of artists and activists who rented that initial loft space with the ambitious goal of creating a nexus for Black culture. Since those humble beginnings, The Studio Museum has evolved into a globally recognized hub for Black artists, but it was forced to close in 2018 to embark on the construction of its new facility.
Museum Director Thelma Golden expressed her enthusiasm about the timing of the reopening, noting the parallels between the current moment and the museum's founding era. "In many ways I do feel the timing of our opening now is ideal," Golden said. "We're opening in a moment that's very much like the moment when the museum was founded."
The new building provides a purpose-built canvas for showcasing both rotating exhibitions from resident artists and pieces from the museum's impressive 9,000-piece permanent collection. Golden emphasized the institution's core mission, explaining, "It was always this museum's goal to be a home for Black art. And the collection really represents a cross-generational, amazing conversation between artists who made works over 100 years ago, and artists who are making work right now."
The museum's inaugural exhibition features the work of light artist Tom Lloyd, whose pieces are displayed in a chapel-like room with soaring barrel-vaulted ceilings, where his works hang like luminous stained glass. Lloyd's inclusion holds special significance, as his "Electronic Refractions II" was the museum's very first solo exhibition. Though Lloyd passed away in 1996, his presence at the reopening creates a meaningful connection to the museum's history.
Exhibit curator Connie H. Choi explained Lloyd's artistic philosophy and community focus: "Lloyd was thinking specifically about how to reflect his immediate community, a predominantly Black community in Jamaica, Queens. And so he was utilizing materials that were easily accessible – Christmas tree light bulbs, and also Buick backup light lenses." Lloyd's approach was intentionally inclusive, as Choi noted, using "flashing, multicolored lights, the heat of hundreds of incandescent bulbs, and the clicking of control boxes" to engage multiple senses and make his work more accessible to viewers.
The artist's pieces have undergone meticulous restoration and modernization to ensure their preservation for future generations. The original incandescent bulbs have been replaced with energy-efficient LEDs, and the control boxes have been upgraded to newer models. However, the museum has maintained the auditory experience that was integral to Lloyd's vision. "The clicking that you hear is a replication of what the original control boxes would've sounded like," Choi explained. "They recreated it, because so many people who love Lloyd's work love that sound."
The opening celebration promises to be a family affair, with many of Lloyd's relatives expected to attend. "When we open to the public on Nov. 15, I think we will have an entire celebration of the extended Lloyd family," Choi said, highlighting the personal connections that continue to bind the artistic community together.
To mark this historic reopening, the museum is hosting a Community Day that will activate the entire new building from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. The celebration is designed to welcome visitors from the museum's surrounding communities and beyond, featuring an array of activities including DJ sets, interactive games, hands-on art-making workshops, and more. This community-focused approach reflects the museum's commitment to remaining accessible and relevant to the diverse neighborhoods it serves, staying true to its founding mission of being a cultural nexus for Black art and community engagement.
