Studio Museum in Harlem
Born out of an urgent need amid the political, social, and cultural ferment of the late 1960s, the Studio Museum in Harlem was founded by a diverse group of artists, community activists, and philanthropists who came together to address the near-complete exclusion of artists of African descent from mainstream museums, commercial art galleries, academic institutions, and scholarly publications.
Mission
The Studio Museum in Harlem is the nexus for artists of African descent locally, nationally, and internationally and for work that has been inspired and influenced by Black culture. It is a site for the dynamic exchange of ideas about art and society.
(L to R) Museum founders Eleanor Holmes Norton, Carter Burden, Charles E. Inniss, Campbell Wylly, Betty Blayton-Taylor, and Frank Donnelly at the Studio Museum on opening night
Portrait of Mary Schmidt Campbell, c. 1983. Photo: Dawoud Bey
Participants of the annual Studio Museum in Harlem chalk-in saluting the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration on the plaza of the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building, July 3, 1985. Photo: Dawoud Bey.
The Building
The Studio Museum is currently constructing the first building in its history created expressly for the needs of the institution and its communities. The new building occupies the site on West 125th Street on which the Studio Museum had been operating since 1982.
The Brand
The Studio Museum’s graphic identity has evolved and responded to the times using print and digital media to advance narratives about Black culture and support an ecosystem of artists and art workers. As the Museum prepares to open its first purpose-built space on 125th street in Harlem, it selected Pacific, a multidisciplinary creative studio to reimagine an identity system that drives forward a legacy of graphic innovation.
The new identity forefronts typography and a three-tiered color palette favoring black and grayscale that offers a range of creative options for the Museum to deepen its connection to artists, members, visitors, and Harlem.
Artist Support
Residency Program
Every year, the Museum offers an eleven-month residency for three local, national, or international artists working in any media. Proposed as a founding initiative in 1968, the Artist-in-Residence program has earned The Studio Museum recognition for its catalytic role in advancing the work of visual artists of African and Afro-Latinx descent.
Wein Prize
Presented each year at the Studio Museum’s fall Gala, the award recognizes and honors the artistic achievements of an African-American artist who demonstrates great innovation, promise, and creativity.
Archives
The Studio Museum in Harlem Archives was established to preserve and make accessible the Studio Museum’s historical records. The Archives provides a space for a critical, interdisciplinary inquiry into the past, present, and future.
Press and News
| 02.25.25 | Studio Museum in Harlem Announces the Participants in its 2025 Arts Leadership Praxis Program Supporting Mid-Career Professionals of Color at Art Museums Throughout the Country | Go to Studio Museum in Harlem Announces the Participants in its 2025 Arts Leadership Praxis Program Supporting Mid-Career Professionals of Color at Art Museums Throughout the Country | |
| 02.12.25 | Mavis Pusey’s First Museum Solo Exhibition Provides Expansive Look into the Underrecognized Artist’s Life and Work in Geometric Abstraction | Go to Mavis Pusey’s First Museum Solo Exhibition Provides Expansive Look into the Underrecognized Artist’s Life and Work in Geometric Abstraction | |
| 10.29.24 | The Ford Foundation Announces $10 Million Dollar Grant to the Studio Museum In Harlem, Permanently Endowing the Position of Director and Chief Curator | Go to The Ford Foundation Announces $10 Million Dollar Grant to the Studio Museum In Harlem, Permanently Endowing the Position of Director and Chief Curator |
Leadership
Thelma Golden
Ford Foundation Director and Chief Curator
Thelma Golden is the Ford Foundation Director and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem. Under Golden’s leadership, the Museum has gained increased renown as a global leader in the exhibition of contemporary art, a center for innovative education, and a cultural anchor in the Harlem community. Born and raised in New York City, Golden began her impressive career as an apprentice at the Metropolitan Museum of Art while still in high school. She began working at the Studio Museum while an undergraduate student of art history and African American studies at Smith College—first as an intern, then as a curatorial fellow after her graduation.
Thelma Golden is the Ford Foundation Director and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem. Under Golden’s leadership, the Museum has gained increased renown as a global leader in the exhibition of contemporary art, a center for innovative education, and a cultural anchor in the Harlem community. Born and raised in New York City, Golden began her impressive career as an apprentice at the Metropolitan Museum of Art while still in high school. She began working at the Studio Museum while an undergraduate student of art history and African American studies at Smith College—first as an intern, then as a curatorial fellow after her graduation.
Natasha L. Logan
Chief Program Officer
Chakshu Patel
Chief Advancement and External Affairs Officer
Terrence Phearse
Chief of Staff
Debra Alligood White
General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer
Careers
Access
The Studio Museum in Harlem is committed to making its exhibitions, programs, and services accessible to all. The Museum continues its efforts to constantly improve the accessibility of its site and services.If you have questions or comments about accessibility at the Studio Museum, please call 212.864.4500 or email us.
Web Accessibility
Our effort to enhance and maintain the accessibility of our website is ongoing. If you have difficulty accessing our website or services, please email [email protected].
General Information
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