Brushstrokes of Memory and Resistance Find a Home in Harlem’s Spotlight

Cy Gavin’s canvases don’t just depict landscapes—they unravel the tangled histories that shape them. This year, the Studio Museum in Harlem honored Gavin with its prestigious Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize, a $50,000 nod to his boundary-pushing vision. Gavin’s art pulses with color and movement, drawing from the lush Hudson Valley and the shadowed legacies of slavery and resistance. His sweeping brushwork transforms natural scenes into layered meditations on place and memory, inviting viewers to see familiar terrains through new eyes. The museum’s gala, buzzing with over 600 supporters, celebrated not just Gavin’s achievement but also the power of art to reframe history. As Gavin prepares for his Rome debut with Gagosian, his work continues to ripple outward—proof that landscapes, like stories, are never static. #ContemporaryArt #StudioMuseum #CyGavin #Culture