Studio Museum in Harlem Reopens with Tom Lloyd Exhibition After Seven-Year Hiatus

After a seven-year hiatus, the iconic Studio Museum in Harlem has reopened in a newly purpose-built facility, marking a major milestone for Black art and culture. The long-awaited opening features a captivating inaugural exhibition by lighting artist Tom Lloyd, whose pioneering work was also the focus of the museum’s first solo exhibition decades ago.

The Studio Museum in Harlem began humbly in 1968, when a group of artists and community activists envisioned a central hub for Black culture. They established their initial space in an attic above a liquor store in Uptown Manhattan. From these modest beginnings, the institution flourished, evolving into a respected, internationally recognized center dedicated to Black artists and their valuable contributions to the art world.

In 2018, the museum temporarily closed its original site and embarked on an ambitious project to build a new home that would better serve its mission and growing collection. This weekend, that vision became a reality as the Studio Museum unveiled its modern building, just a few blocks from where it first opened. Museum Director Thelma Golden expressed immense excitement and a sense of perfect timing for this historic occasion.

After seven years, the Studio Museum in Harlem reopens in a modern facility featuring Tom Lloyd’s restored light installations. The museum celebrates Black art, community engagement, and cross-generational artistic dialogue.

Golden said, “In many ways, I feel that the timing of our opening now is ideal,” noting parallels between the contemporary cultural landscape and the transformative era in which the museum was founded. This sense reinforces the museum’s enduring importance and its renewed commitment to fostering dialogue and showcasing the richness of Black artistic expression.

The newly constructed museum provides a spacious, purpose-designed environment, offering the perfect canvas for rotating exhibitions by resident artists and selections from its permanent collection of 9,000 pieces. Golden emphasized the museum’s core mission: to be a vibrant home for Black art. She highlighted how the collection beautifully creates a cross-generational dialogue, featuring works by artists spanning more than a century alongside contemporary pieces.

To inaugurate this new chapter, the museum’s opening exhibition proudly presents the work of esteemed lighting artist Tom Lloyd. His installations, reminiscent of stained glass in a church-like setting, illuminate a tall vaulted room. This choice is particularly poignant, honoring Lloyd—who passed away in 1996—with a solo exhibition, a fitting tribute since Electronic Fractures II was the very first solo exhibition ever held at the Studio Museum.

Curator Connie H. Choi offered insight into Lloyd’s artistic approach, explaining how he sought specifically to reflect his immediate surroundings, particularly the predominantly Black community of Jamaica, Queens. To achieve this, Lloyd innovatively used readily available materials such as Christmas tree lights and Buick rear light lenses. Choi also highlighted Lloyd’s dedication to engaging multiple senses, making his art more accessible through shimmering colored lights, the warmth of hundreds of glowing bulbs, and the distinctive clicks of his control boxes.

For the reopening, Lloyd’s complex works underwent careful restoration and updating to ensure their preservation for future generations. While incandescent bulbs were replaced with energy-efficient LEDs, and control boxes upgraded to silent models, the beloved clicking sounds were meticulously recreated. Choi noted that this auditory replication was intentional, recognizing that many of Lloyd’s fans cherished this signature sound. Many of Lloyd’s relatives are expected to attend the grand opening, making it a significant family celebration.

In addition to Lloyd’s family, a broader community celebration is planned. To mark the grand reopening, the museum is hosting a community day designed to enliven the entire building and welcome individuals from the surrounding neighborhoods and beyond. Scheduled from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, the day promises a vibrant mix of activities, including lively DJ sets, interactive games, inspiring art workshops, and much more, inviting everyone to join in this joyous return.