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Thelma Golden Reflects on Studio Museum's Legacy and Reopening After Eight-Year Closure

institutional · 2026-04-20

On November 15, 2025, the Studio Museum in Harlem will welcome visitors again after being closed for eight years and completing a $300 million capital campaign for a new facility designed by Adjaye Associates. Thelma Golden, marking her 25th year as director, reflects on the museum's journey since its establishment in 1968 at 2033 Fifth Avenue. Golden's curatorial achievements include the 1993 Whitney Biennial and the 1994–95 exhibition Black Male. Previously, the museum operated from a repurposed bank at 144 West 125th Street. During the closure, it collaborated with the Museum of Modern Art for programming. The reopening will showcase intergenerational dialogues, including an exhibit on Tom Lloyd, highlighting the museum's commitment to supporting Black artists and civic engagement.

Key facts

  • The Studio Museum in Harlem reopens on 15 November 2025
  • Thelma Golden has been director for 25 years
  • The new building was designed by Adjaye Associates after a $300 million capital campaign
  • The museum was founded in 1968 at 2033 Fifth Avenue
  • Golden curated the 1993 Whitney Biennial and the 1994–95 exhibition Black Male
  • The 2001 exhibition Freestyle featured 28 early-career Black artists including Mark Bradford and Rashid Johnson
  • Tom Lloyd will be featured in one of the first exhibitions in the new building
  • The museum partnered with MoMA during closure, presenting artists like Michael Armitage in 2019

Entities

Artists

  • Thelma Golden
  • Daniel J Martinez
  • Mark Bradford
  • Rashid Johnson
  • Tom Lloyd
  • Michael Armitage
  • Kahlil Robert Irving
  • Garrett Bradley
  • Ming Smith
  • Tadáskía
  • Charles E. Inniss
  • Mark Rappolt

Institutions

  • Studio Museum in Harlem
  • Whitney Biennial
  • The New York Times
  • Museum of Modern Art
  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art
  • Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
  • Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
  • ArtReview
  • Tate

Locations

  • Harlem
  • New York City
  • United States
  • 144 West 125th Street
  • 2033 Fifth Avenue
  • Los Angeles

Sources