When Studio Museum opened in 1968, it was the first Black fine arts museum in the country, and it remains the place to go for historical insight into African American art and the art of the African diaspora. The museum reopened in 2025 after a seven-year closure for construction. The new space, located on the same footprint along 125th Street, doubled space for the groundbreaking exhibitions the museum is known for.
The abstract, towering building is centered around a sleek stone staircase, which stretches throughout the building like a spine. At the bottom, there's a community hangout area called the stoop. At the top, a lush garden with skyline views will no doubt become a popular space in warmer weather. Throughout, exhibitions fill each floor, drawing pieces from the museum's collection of 9,000 pieces and highlighting works by artists-in-residence over the years.