© Adjaye Associates/Future Studio Museum in Harlem
Theaster Gates' site-specific commission for the new David Adjaye building in Harlem generates $210 million and is anticipated to open in 2024.
The Studio Museum in Harlem, which highlights the work of Black artists, has secured $210 million for its new facility on 125th Street in Manhattan's construction, endowment, and operating fund.
The 82,000-square-foot building, designed by David Adjaye, will include a site-specific commission by celebrated artist Theaster Gates made with building materials salvaged from the former museum, symbolizing the old building's legacy and keeping alive the hand of J. Max Bond Jr, the influential Black architect who designed the original structure.
The building, which was first announced in 2017 and broke ground in 2018, coinciding with the museum's 50th anniversary, was celebrated this week with a ceremony. Thelma Golden, the museum's director and chief curator, said the new structure "will be a tangible representation of our goal, supporting and enabling everything we do for artists of African heritage, our beloved community of Harlem, New York City, and our visitors from across the world."
The museum has been housed in a 20th-century former bank since 1982, and the new building is set to open in 2024. It has five stories and approximately 17,000 square feet of exhibition space, up from 8,000 square feet previously, as well as increased outdoor, educational, and office areas. There's also a roof patio and artist-in-residence areas.
The museum's permanent collection has almost 2,000 pieces by artists such as Romare Bearden, Henry Ossawa Tanner, and Kara Walker. The capital campaign, which includes funding from public and private donors, including a $62 million contribution from the city of New York, surpassed its $175 million objective and will now aim for $250 million.
Selena Mattei