New York’s Brooklyn Museum just announced plans for new permanent galleries dedicated to its African art collection. Artnet News notes the museum has collected African art for over 100 years. Brooklyn-based firm Peterson Rich Office (PRO) designed the 6,400-square-foot spaces on the museum’s third floor, next to the Beaux-Arts Court. The project turns old storage areas into display rooms, linking them directly to the Egyptian art galleries for the first time.
Restoring Connections and Adding Modern Touches
PRO worked with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners on historic preservation. They plan to reopen an original pathway around the Beaux-Arts Court by removing doors and walls, which restores old sightlines. This setup treats North Africa and the rest of the continent as one artistic story.
The galleries mix old and new: high ceilings and big windows in the historic East Wing let in daylight, while 1920s sections get updated lighting, climate control, and metal accents in a bold color. Over 300 works from ancient times to now will go on view at opening.
Part of Ongoing Updates
The museum, built in 1893 by McKim, Mead & White, has seen many changes lately—like the Arts of Asia galleries, Great Hall, and more. Work starts summer 2026, with galleries opening fall 2027. Funding for the $13 million overhaul comes from New York City, federal grants, Ford Foundation, Sills Family Foundation, and donors.
ArchDaily reports new curators Ernestine White-Mifetu and Annissa Malvoisin lead the effort, focusing on Africa’s global ties through rivers, seas, and trade routes.