COLUMBIA, SC.- The Columbia Museum of Art announces it will undergo a major legacy project in its 75th anniversary year — a total gallery lighting renovation and fresh art reinstall beginning late January 2025. The CMA’s gallery lights date back to 1998, when the museum first moved to its current location on Main Street. That system is now obsolete and, in order to best preserve and present the art on view, must be replaced.

To accommodate this exciting new project, all galleries will temporarily close by January 21. This is a significant step as the museum prepares to bring visitors enhanced and enriched experiences. The galleries will reopen in phases beginning in May, unveiling new and improved spaces to explore.

The CMA will continue to offer programs, events, and rentals throughout this period, ensuring that the museum remains a vibrant hub of culture and community.

CMA Executive Director Della Watkins will oversee the lighting renovation.

“We are dedicated to creating unforgettable, immersive art and culture experiences for all guests, and we need proper lighting to accomplish that,” says Watkins. “Lighting plays a central role in shaping narratives, evoking emotions, and accentuating the intricate details of each piece on view. Our updated system will usher in an era of unparalleled precision and control; the LED lighting system will not only illuminate objects more naturally but also enhance, elevate, and preserve them, bringing each to life like never before.”

To accomplish this comprehensive project, all the art in the galleries must be removed and safely stored. Galleries will be closed in phases: First-floor exhibition galleries close after French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950 ends on January 5. The CMA Collection galleries on the second floor will close on January 21. The CMA will be open on Monday, January 20, to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and say “farewell for now” to the CMA Collection.

Boyd Plaza will not be affected, and the CMA plans to continue its robust program schedule both indoors and out.

“Rest assured, Soda Citizens, your museum will continue to deliver high-quality programming throughout renovations,” says CMA Associate Director of Engagement Wilson Bame. “The engagement team as well as our beloved affinity groups have an array of events on deck, including a Hall & Oates jazz celebration, art classes, Black Art Pokeno, the Contemporaries ball, the return of Play on the Plaza, and more. Don’t sleep on the CMA this spring!”

First-floor exhibition galleries are projected to reopen May 24 with featured summer exhibition Sam Gilliam: Printmaker followed by featured fall exhibition Keith Haring: Radiant Vision, opening September 27.

The CMA Collection galleries will reopen in early 2026. Taking the opportunity that deinstallation affords, the museum is updating the content and approach to the CMA Collection including gallery layout, art on view, and interpretive elements.

Coinciding with the CMA Collection reinstallation, the CMA will also launch a new tour program for audiences including K-12, college and graduate students, and adults.

The lighting in the Our Story Matters Gallery, near the Main Street entrance, was recently updated, so that space will remain open throughout renovations.

“We look forward to celebrating the culmination of this lighting project and the CMA’s 75th anniversary in 2025, and we can’t wait for visitors to experience their museum in a brand-new light!” says Watkins.