The Studio Museum in Harlem

"Founded in 1968 by a diverse group of artists, community activists, and philanthropists, the Studio Museum in Harlem is internationally known for its catalytic role in promoting the work of artists of African descent. Bringing together oral histories from the Studio Museum in Harlem's founding figures; essays by leading scholars, curators, and artists; and a trove of archival material, this dynamic volume offers the first comprehensive history of the Studio Museum. In-depth essays anchor thematic sections examining the Museum's founding, its collecting practices and exhibitions, and community engagement. Shorter texts and monologues drawn from interviews with foundational figures immerse the reader in specific events, exhibitions, and moments in the landmark institution's history. At the book's center is an expansive visual archive offering a timeline in photographs and ephemera, many of them published here for the first time. This richly illustrated volume will serve as the definitive resource on the history and legacy of the place "Where Black Art Lives.""--