The Studio Museum in Harlem has reopened after a seven-year closure in a new building designed by David Adjaye, with Thelma Golden continuing as director and chief curator. The museum has expanded its indoor spaces, replacing a garden with a public staircase called the Stoop, and added a rooftop terrace with city views. Adjaye faced sexual misconduct allegations in 2023, leading to Pascale Sablan taking over the project, though Adjaye remains listed as founder and principal of his firm.
The reopening matters because the Studio Museum has long been a vital institution for artists of African descent, reshaping the art world's canon and spotlighting Black artists. Its new home, set amid a gentrifying Harlem neighborhood, symbolizes its growing visibility and influence, both locally and internationally, after decades of being overlooked by the mainstream New York art scene.