Studio Museum in Harlem Reopens After $307M Renovation

The Studio Museum in Harlem reopened on November 15, 2024, after a seven-year, $160 million renovation that doubled its exhibition space to 7,700 square meters. Designed by Adjaye Associates with Cooper Robertson, the seven-story building on 125th Street features stacked stone cubes in black and anthracite with large windows. The museum raised $307 million under director Thelma Golden, including $23 million in cash reserves and a $52 million endowment. Inaugural exhibitions include a solo show for Tom Lloyd (1929–1996), the pioneering electronic light sculptor whose work inaugurated the museum in 1968, and "From Now: A Collection in Context," rotating works from the permanent collection of nearly 9,000 pieces by over 800 artists spanning 200 years. The Artist-in-Residence program, founded in 1968, continues to support three artists annually for eleven months with studio space, funding, and a final exhibition. Notable works on view include David Hammons' flag "Untitled" (2004) and Glenn Ligon's neon "ME/WE" (Give Us a Poem, 2007).