Dubbed as the second Harlem renaissance. On New York City's 125th St, where a sculpture of Adam Clayton Powell Jr marches onwards and upwards, the atmosphere is buzzing with energy and excitement.
The renowned Apollo Theater is undergoing major renovations. Another cultural institution is set to relocate into an $80M arts complex spanning a entire block. Additionally, another organization recently opened a $250M building containing its headquarters, affordable housing and retail space.
“This building says to the world: Harlem is important; Black art is significant; Black institutions are crucial,” remarked the chairman of the board of trustees. “It will stand as a beacon on 125th Street, a place where art and people meet.”
This institution was founded by creators, advocates, philanthropists and community members to confront the widespread omission of Black artists from established museums. It opened in a leased space over an liquor store in 1968, a traumatic year of political murders, protests and social change.
“This moment feels what it must have been like when it all began,” noted a institutional representative. “The museum was born in a world of flux. The country was divided. People were marching. Artists were demanding to be recognized.”
The new $160 million facility covers 82,000 sq ft across seven levels. Designed by architectural firms, the building constitutes the first custom-designed home for the institution and nearly doubles its gallery and activity areas.
The facility includes exhibition spaces, an large entrance hall, flexible programme spaces, a dedicated education workshop, a coffee shop and retail store, plus a rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. A monumental stair, clad in terrazzo, fills the main atrium space.
The inaugural exhibition schedule reflects the institution's history and aspirations with four major exhibitions. A particular display features the initial comprehensive retrospective of pioneering artist an electronic art pioneer, whose electronic light sculptures appeared in the institution's first show.
The institution's opening feels especially meaningful during a period when diversity initiatives, cultural institutions and the way African American history is told face increased scrutiny. The city has recently elected a leader who embodies the city's cultural diversity, and this neighborhood has a particular talent for making renaissance resemble defiance.
“Harlem has always been evolving,” observed a senior leader. “It's a district that has been evolving since it was established. But this area has also been a neighbourhood where Black culture has flourished.”
This institution celebrates its influential residency program with an former residents exhibition including notable names such as contemporary portraitist, Mickalene Thomas and conceptual painter. The display mixes new commissions with older artworks spanning multiple decades.
Among recent acquisitions are sound-based works and sculptural pieces. Metal containers created by sculptor Houston Conwill contain private statements by prominent African American figures, originally interred in the institution's outdoor space in the mid-1980s and now on display with plans to be opened in September 2034.
Guests can explore an archival presentation of images and ephemera documenting the museum's history through its exhibitions, events and activities over almost sixty years. This rich history includes memorable moments ranging from royal visits to local presentations that together illustrate the institution's enduring impact.
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