The Studio Museum in Harlem will remain closed until February 7 following a sprinkler malfunction that flooded its gift shop. The incident occurred on January 23 when a sprinkler was damaged during preparations for an approaching storm and cold front.
Water poured from the ceiling, creating a large pool near the museum entrance. Museum staff evacuated visitors that afternoon. The New York City Fire Department responded to the emergency at 2:30 pm and resolved the situation by 3 pm. No injuries were reported.
The museum initially announced it would close through the weekend but extended the closure to allow for water damage remediation. All programs and events scheduled during the closure period have been cancelled and ticket holders have received refunds. A museum spokesperson confirmed that no artworks or galleries were affected by the flooding. The 82,000-square-foot building, designed by Adjaye Associates with Cooper Robertson, reopened to the public on November 15, 2025, following a seven-year closure for construction. The $160 million facility replaced the museum's previous location on West 125th Street. The Studio Museum in Harlem, founded in 1968, is dedicated to promoting work by artists of African descent.
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