🔗 Share this article

Consider it the new Harlem rebirth. On New York City's 125th Street, where a statue of civil rights leader Adam Clayton Powell Jr stride forward, the atmosphere is filled with bustle and buzz.

A Neighborhood in Transformation

The renowned Apollo Theater is undergoing major renovations. Another cultural institution is preparing to move into an $80M arts complex spanning a entire block. Meanwhile, the National Urban League recently opened a $250 million facility containing its headquarters, affordable housing and retail space.

“This structure declares to the globe: Harlem is important; Black art matters; Black institutions are crucial,” stated the chairman of the governing board. “It will serve as a beacon on this historic street, a space where creativity and community converge.”

Historical Foundation

This institution was established by artists, activists, donors and local residents to confront the systemic exclusion of Black artists from mainstream institutions. It opened in a leased space over an liquor store in 1968, a turbulent year of assassinations, uprisings and societal transformation.

“This moment feels what it must have felt like when it all started,” reflected a institutional representative. “The institution emerged in a time of change. The country was divided. People were marching. Artists were demanding to be seen and heard.”

Building Design

The recently completed $160 million structure spans 82,000 sq ft across seven levels. Created by architectural firms, the building represents the first custom-designed space for the institution and almost doubles its exhibition and programme space.

The building features galleries, 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. An impressive staircase, clad in terrazzo, fills the main atrium space.

Notable Artworks

The inaugural programming showcases the institution's history and aspirations with several key shows. One exhibition features the initial comprehensive retrospective of pioneering artist Tom Lloyd, whose illuminated works appeared in the museum's inaugural 1968 exhibition.

• An artist's 1969 abstract musical tribute pays homage to John Coltrane
• Kerry James Marshall's Silence Is Golden addresses lack of representation and Black representation
• Jean-Michel Basquiat's Bayou features bold strokes and fragments of collage
• Faith Ringgold's initial narrative textile captures her community in both joyful and elegiac tones

Broader Impact

The museum's arrival feels especially meaningful during a time when inclusion programs, museums and the way African American history is presented face increased scrutiny. New York has just chosen a mayor who personifies the metropolis's multicultural character, and this neighborhood has a particular talent for making renaissance resemble defiance.

“This community has constantly transformed,” commented a senior leader. “It's a district that has been evolving since it was established. But this area has also been a community where African American culture has flourished.”

This institution celebrates its influential residency program with an alumni show including prominent figures such as contemporary portraitist, mixed-media artist and conceptual painter. The display mixes recently created works with historical pieces spanning various periods.

Continuing Mission

Including new commissions are sonic installations and sculptural pieces. Metal containers created by artist Houston Conwill contain private statements by seven distinguished Black Americans, originally buried in the institution's outdoor space in 1984 and now on display with plans to be opened in the year 2034.

Guests can explore an archival presentation of photographs and ephemera documenting the institution's journey through its shows, events and activities over nearly six decades. This rich history includes notable occasions ranging from royal visits to local presentations that together illustrate the museum's lasting influence.