Studio Museum in Harlem New York
Artists of color
This lesser-known museum has closed because they are rebuilding, from the ground up. It is a museum that you are likely to find only in New York City, as it focuses on local, national and international artists of African descent and other work inspired by black culture. Consequently, all exhibits are currently online.
Studio Museum 127 is their temporary space located at 429 West 127th Street between Amsterdam and Convent Avenues. Hours are Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 6 pm. Update: due to COVID this location is temporarily closed.
The website now redirects patrons to the various neighbourhood locations of their temporary exhibition spaces. I think this is a really good time for out of towners to go, because a visit will force you to wander 125th street and other major corridors of Harlem in a way that you might not do otherwise.
Among their special events is the film series "I Remember Harlem", a film by Bill Miles covering Harlem during the 1930s, a time when nearly all the clubs that made Harlem famous were in full swing.
If you ask, staff will direct you to commercial galleries specializing in art by African American artists, or representing specific black artists.
For another authentic Harlem experience, read about free jazz at the American Legion, where a good thing just keeps going.
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