NYU - Grey Art Museum

The Grey Art Museum, New York University’s distinguished fine arts institution, stands at the intersection of academic inquiry and public engagement. Serving as both a museum and a laboratory for cultural exploration, the Grey fosters transformative encounters with art that provoke thought, inspire curiosity, and deepen understanding of global histories.

Founded in 1975 as the Grey Art Gallery, following a generous gift from collector Abby Weed Grey, the museum has long been committed to presenting groundbreaking exhibitions and expanding the boundaries of art historical scholarship. In 2024, the institution entered a bold new chapter with its move to 18 Cooper Square in Manhattan’s NoHo district. This purpose-built space, with increased visibility and expanded gallery areas, reaffirms the Grey’s role as a vital cultural force within the NYU community and the broader city landscape.

The museum is rooted in NYU’s historic legacy of art education, tracing its lineage back to the University Building of the 19th century and to the influential Museum of Living Art, established by A.E. Gallatin. This legacy continues in the Grey’s dedication to fostering intellectual exchange and promoting underrepresented narratives in the visual arts.

With a curatorial program that spans time periods, geographies, and media, the Grey has organized exhibitions ranging from modernist painting to contemporary performance, and from global decorative arts to experimental film. These shows often travel beyond New York, bringing the museum’s vision to national and international audiences.

More than just a repository of artworks, the Grey Art Museum is a hub of interdisciplinary learning and public discourse. It partners with scholars, institutions, and community organizations to offer lectures, panels, and events that deepen engagement. Through this work, the Grey continues to illuminate the role of visual culture in shaping, challenging, and reflecting the complexities of our world.