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From May 8 through July 10, 2026, New York University and The Berkley Collection will present The Declaration of Independence: Long Trail to Liberty. For extended hours and more, visit theberkley.org.

 Grey Art Museum programming will resume on September 9, 2026, with by Alison Knowles: A Retrospective (1960–2022) and Making Music: Helen Frankenthaler Prints from the New York University Art Collection.
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An art gallery interior with varied artworks on display, including framed paintings, a wooden sculpture, and a display table with a glass case.
Modernisms: Iranian, Turkish, and Indian Highlights from NYU’s Abby Weed Grey Collection at Grey Art Museum, NYU, 2019.… Modernisms: Iranian, Turkish, and Indian Highlights from NYU’s Abby Weed Grey Collection at Grey Art Museum, NYU, 2019. Photo: Nicholas Papananias

The New York University Art Collection

The NYU Art Collection, which the Grey Art Museum has stewarded since its opening in 1975, was initiated in 1958 with Francis Picabia’s Résonateur (c. 1922) and Fritz Glarner’s Relational Painting (1949–50). Today, the collection includes nearly 7,000 objects and is primarily composed of late-19th- and 20th-century works, ranging from Pablo Picasso’s monumental public sculpture Bust of Sylvette (1968), to one of Joseph Cornell's boxes, Chocolat Menier (1952), to a bronze Heech sculpture (1972) by Iranian modernist Parviz Tanavoli. The NYU Art Collection includes major donated acquisitions, such as the Abby Weed Grey Collection of Modern Asian and Middle Eastern Art and the Cottrell-Lovett Collection. 

 

Explore a partial list of artists in the NYU Art Collection at the bottom of this page.

The collection’s particular strength is American painting from the 1940s to the present, with works by such well-known artists as Romare Bearden, Helen Frankenthaler, Arshile Gorky, Adolph Gottlieb, Louise Nevelson, Kenneth Noland, and Ad Reinhardt. European prints are also well represented, with works by Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, and Picasso, to name a few. 

When Abby Weed Grey endowed the Grey Art Museum in 1974, she expanded the NYU Art Collection with a gift of some 1,000 works of modern art that she acquired during her frequent travels in Asia and the Middle East. Truly an unparalleled and unique resource, the Abby Weed Grey Collection of Modern Asian and Middle Eastern Art includes some of the largest institutional holdings of Iranian, Indian, and Turkish modern art outside those countries.

One focus of Grey Art Museum acquisitions is art that has emerged from downtown New York’s creative milieu, as seen in works by Norman Bluhm, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Deborah Kass, and Glenn Ligon, among others. In 2022 the museum announced a major gift of over 200 works by downtown New York artists from longtime art patrons and social activists Dr. James Cottrell and Mr. Joseph Lovett.

Featured Artworks

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Artwork in the shape of a rectangular panel with a grid of carved squares, featuring four lavender squares next to each other near the bottom of the composition.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, 93 Fingers, 1970. Latex and acrylic paint on plaster and wood, 56 1/2 x 26 3/4 x 2 in. Grey Art Museum,…
Artwork with a 5 by 5 grid of handprint sketches with one central black rectangle.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Black Plaster Hand, 1970. Oil and pencil on canvas and plaster, 37 x 37 in. Grey Art Museum, New York…
White square artwork with faint abstract shape in the center.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #1 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
White square artwork with faint abstract shape in the center.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #2 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork with a largely white background and crumpled texture effect central to the composition. The central area features a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, forming a sharp, star-like pattern.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #3 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork with a largely white background and crumpled texture effect central to the composition. The central area features a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, forming a sharp, star-like pattern.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #4 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork with a largely white background and crumpled texture effect central to the composition. The central area features a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, forming a sharp, star-like pattern.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #5 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork with a crumpled texture effect central to the composition. The majority of the composition features a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, forming a sharp, star-like pattern that fades to a white background.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #6 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork with a crumpled texture effect central to the composition. The majority of the composition features a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, forming a sharp, star-like pattern that fades to a white background.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #7 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #8 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #9 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #10 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #11 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #12 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #13 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #14 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #15 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #16 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #17 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #18 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #19 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #20 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Monochrome artwork composed of a concentrated arrangement of folds and creases, with the painted shapes forming a crumpled paper texture.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Evolution of an Illusion, #21 (in a Series of 21), 1970. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. Grey Art…
Abstract artwork with overlapping geometric shapes in gray, black, and hints of yellow.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, La Lumiere Sombre, 1969. Oil on canvas, 37 1/2 x 26 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Artwork of a grid with 11 egg-shaped reliefs on a textured, gray background, featuring a gold-framed center.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, La Pomme de Terre d'Or, 1971. Painted wood and plaster construction, 43 x 27 1/2 x 2 in. Grey Art…
Abstract blue triptych with textured brushstrokes.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Le Paysage Mystique, 1966. Acrylic on paper supported on canvas, 81 1/2 x 174 in. Grey Art Museum, New…
A grid of 36 squares with one distinct square inthe bottom left corner bearing an apple shape, set in a wooden frame.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Temptation, 1970. Latex paint on plaster and wood construction, 31 x 31 in. Grey Art Museum, New York…
Square artwork with rounded plaster apple forms embedded and arranged in an approximate grid pattern.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Temptation, 1970. Latex paint on plaster and wood, 12 1/2 x 12 3/8 x 2 1/2 in. Grey Art Museum, New…
Abstract pattern of colorful curved shapes arranged in a diagonal cluster that stretches from the top left to the bottom right of the frame on an off-white background.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Untitled, n.d. Tempera on paper, 12 x 17 3/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection.…
Abstract pattern of colorful curved shapes arranged in a diagonal cluster that stretches from the top left to the bottom right of the frame on an off-white background.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Untitled, n.d. Tempera on paper, 12 x 17 3/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection.…
Abstract pattern of back curved shapes arranged in a diagonal cluster that stretches from the top left to the bottom right of the frame on an off-white background.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Untitled, n.d. Ink on paper, 12 x 17 3/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift…
Abstract black-and-white drawing with intertwined lines and swirling patterns.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Untitled, n.d. Ink on paper, 25 1/8 x 19 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift…
Abstract black and white drawing with curved lines and small black circles.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Untitled, n.d. Ink on paper, 25 1/8 x 19 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift…
Abstract black ink drawing with swirling lines and shapes on an off-white background.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Untitled, n.d. Ink on paper, 25 1/8 x 19 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift…
Abstract artwork with dynamic blue and black curved lines on a beige background.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Untitled, n.d. Ink on paper, 24 x 18 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift of…
Abstract artwork with swirling, multicolored lines forming a dynamic pattern against an off-white background.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Untitled, n.d. Ink and gouache on paper, 24 x 18 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
An abstract artwork featuring layered scribbles in blue, red, green, and purple on a white background.
Hamid Zarrine-Afsar, Untitled, n.d. Felt tip pen on paper, 25 1/2 x 30 1/2 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…

Collection Highlights

Artists in the Collection

Shiva Ahmadi

Mahmud Ahmadi

Nevzat Akoral

Ambadas

Jaya Appasamy

Siah Armajani

Mustafa Aslier

Milton Avery

Donald Baechler

Jamal Bakhshpour

Prabhakar Barwe

Romare Bearden

Aliye Berger

Nurullah Berk

Sabri Berkel

Sadan Bezeyis

Dhanraj Bhagat

Norman Bluhm

Ilya Bolotowsky

James Brown

Ali Avni Çelebi

Joseph Cornell

Bimal Das Gupta

Shanti Dave

Elaine De Kooning

Willem De Kooning

Sonia Delaunay

Nejad Melih Devrim

Kamran Diba

Bijan Dowlatshahi

Âbidin Elderoğlu

Devrim Erbil

Cemil Eren

Ahmad Esfandiari

Mustafa Esirkus

Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu

Eren Eyüboğlu

Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian

Roland Flexner

Helen Frankenthaler

Adam Fuss

Mansour Ghandriz

Fritz Glarner

Gündüz Gölünü

Behrooz Golzari

Arshile Gorky

Adolph Gottlieb

Marcos Grigorian

Satish Gujral

Ahmet Gürsoy

Grace Hartigan

Mary Heilmann

Al Held

Hans Hofmann

Somnath Hore

Peter Hujar

Maqbool Fida Husain

Nevin Islek

Mahmud Javadipur

Özer Kabaş

Ercüment Kalmık

Deborah Kass

Alex Katz

Hasan Kavruk

Fethi Kayaalp

Hossein Kazemi

Adrian Kellard

Krishen Khanna

Hossein Khatayi

Sumbat Kiureghian

Füreya Koral

Chitrangada Krishna

Devayani Krishna

Kanwal Krishna

Nicholas Krushenick

Ram Kumar

Yayoi Kusama

Glenn Ligon

Tom Lloyd

Sirous Malek

Édouard Manet

Robert Mapplethorpe

Agnes Martin

Seyhoun Masoumeh

Henri Matisse

Suzanne McClelland

Anjolie Ela Menon

Joan Mirò

Morteza Momayez

Robert Motherwell

Mir-Hossein Mousavi (Khameneh)

Louise Nevelson

Kenneth Noland

Nasser Ovissi

Ru'in Pakbaz

Francis Picabia

Pablo Picasso

Faramarz Pilaram

Robert Rauschenberg

Krishna Reddy

Ad Reinhardt

Bernard (Tony) Rosenthal

Behjat Sadr

Mohan Samant

Gulam Rasool Santosh

Sohrab Sepehri

Cindy Sherman

Laurie Simmons

Philip Smith

Francis Newton Souza

Mumtaz Sultan Ali

Vivan Sundaram

Jazeh Tabatabai

Sadegh Tabrizi

Parviz Tanavoli

Esmail Tavakoli

Adnan Turani

Jehangir P. Vazifdar

Kara Walker

Hamid Zarrine-Afsar

Fahrelnissa Zeid

Charles Hossein Zenderoudi