Thelma Golden Knows That Showing Great Art Means Nurturing New Artists

On a late fall afternoon, a young woman in her early 20s walked up to the reception desk of the Studio Museum in Harlem and asked, politely, how she could exhibit her own work in the institution’s galleries. Given that the Studio Museum is one of the kingmakers of the international art scene—thanks to the leadership of director Thelma Golden—the request was a bit fantastical.

But Golden has made a point of nurturing talent from the surrounding neighborhood, so the receptionist promptly shared material about the museum’s residency program. “What makes this institution unique is the way in which we see our role,” says Golden of the museum she’s led for 12 years. “We are devoted to the presentation, interpretation, stewardship, and collection of artwork. But we also see ourselves as advocates for the artists themselves.”