In October 2011 the New Museum’s inaugurated the Studio 231 series to present commissioned projects in the Museum’s adjacent, ground- floor space at 231 Bowery. This initiative, overseen by Massimiliano Gioni, Associate Director and Director of Exhibitions, gave international, emerging artists the opportunity to realize ambitious new works conceived especially for the space. The projects at 231 Bowery also sought to foster a new relationship between the artists and the public by allowing artists to create work outside the confines of the main museum building and in closer proximity to the energy of the street and to the creative space of the artist’s studio.