This summer, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum continues its acclaimed exhibition Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers with a compelling series of live performances and cultural programs that animate the artist’s transformative installations. Within the museum’s iconic rotunda, Johnson’s monumental works—Sanguine, a sweeping site-specific installation crowned with an embedded piano on the uppermost ramp, and Rotunda Stage, a ground-level performance platform—serve as living canvases for monthly artistic interventions.
In July, the museum welcomes Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) as its featured community curator. Renowned for cultivating artistic excellence and empowering youth through interdisciplinary arts training, HSA brings a powerful ensemble of theatrical, spoken word, and musical expression to the Guggenheim. Performances will unfold across both Sanguine and Rotunda Stage, weaving together layered dialogues of identity, space, and creativity.
To deepen this engagement, HSA music students will partake in a Creative Embodiment Workshop led by the esteemed sound designer and multidisciplinary artist Skooby Laposky. Together, they will explore how Johnson’s work reframes space and materiality in performance—sparking introspection, collaboration, and radical artistic interpretation. The students’ insights from this workshop will inform their live performances throughout the month, adding intimate resonance to the exhibition’s core themes.
Complementing the evolving monthly series, the Guggenheim continues its signature Late Shift evenings and youth-centric programming. On Thursday, July 17, the museum extends its hours to 8 PM, culminating in a Rotunda Stage concert by Grammy-nominated jazz harpist and composer Brandee Younger. Performing alongside Rashaan Carter on bass and Allan Mednard on drums, Younger’s ensemble promises an electrifying soundscape that echoes Johnson’s immersive artistic vision.
To invite further evening exploration, the Guggenheim offers extended summer hours every Thursday until 8 PM, with the exception of July 24.
July programming includes:
Late Shift
Thursday, July 17, 5:30–8 pm
Taking place every third Thursday, Late Shift invites visitors to explore the galleries, participate in curated artful experiences, and enjoy refreshments at a cash bar in Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic rotunda after-hours.
July’s edition will feature a live performance by Grammy Award–nominated jazz harpist and composer Brandee Younger, joined by musicians Rashaan Carter, bass, and Allan Mednard, drums. In her latest album, Gadabout Season, released on June 13, Younger plays the newly restored harp of Alice Coltrane, an artistic influence she shares with Rashid Johnson.
Teen Programming
Learn more and register for Teen Circle
Coinciding with Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers, the Guggenheim New York has launched Teen Circle, a free membership program for teens ages 13–18. The circle builds creativity and cultural connection for teens through art, community, and museum access.
Teen Tuesday
Tuesday, July 22, 4–5:30 pm
Free with admission
Urban Word NYC, one of the country’s oldest and most comprehensive youth literary arts organizations, will host a slam poetry session on Rotunda Stage.
Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers July public performance series highlights:
Live performances are Fridays at 4 pm and Sundays at 1 pm (Sanguine piano), and Saturdays at 1 pm and Mondays at 4 pm (Rotunda Stage). Performances range from 15 to 40 minutes.
Friday, July 4, 4 pm
Sanguine Piano
HSA student Mansour Kennon Brennon will perform music inspired by Sanguine.
Sunday, July 6, 1 pm
Sanguine Piano
HSA student Landon Ifill will play the piano situated in Sanguine.
Friday, July 11, 4 pm
Sanguine Piano
HSA student Dominic Zow will play the piano situated in Sanguine.
Saturdays, July 12, 19, and 26, 1 pm
Rotunda Stage
HSA theatre students—including Eva Carvallo, Mari Diop, Aimony Erisnor, and Landon Ifill—will perform spoken word and theatrical pieces.
Sunday, July 13, 1 pm
Sanguine Piano
HSA student Luca Ochoa will perform music inspired by Sanguine.
Mondays, July 14, 21, and 28, 4 pm
Rotunda Stage
HSA theatre students—including Eva Carvallo, Mari Diop, Aimony Erisnor, and Landon Ifill—will perform spoken word and theatrical pieces.
Sunday, July 20, 1 pm
Sanguine Piano
HSA student Nasir Oliver will play the piano situated in Sanguine.
All performances require a general admission ticket to the museum.
Performances and events as part of the exhibition will be announced monthly; please visit guggenheim.org/calendar for additional information and additional updates. Event details are subject to change.
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