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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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Abstract painting of two figures in patterned flowing garments with a blue background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Eren Eyüboğlu, Two Sisters, n.d. Oil and lithograph on paper, 22 1/4 x 17 1/2 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Monotype with a design of green vines budding with orange, red, and blue flowers on a cream-colored background. Two bluejays sit atop vines, examining the flowers, in the bottom of the work.
Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Flowers, 1965. Oil on canvas (monotype), 26 x 20 1/2 in. Grey Art Museum, New York…
A silhouetted figure on horseback being controlled by large hands, set against a light background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Kara Walker, Testimony, 2005. Photogravure, 22 1/2 x 30 3/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift of…
Abstract circular design resembling an eye with intricate patterns and fragmented outer sections.
Parviz Tanavoli, Mystic Eye, 1962. Etching on paper, 14 3/4 x 19 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection.…
Abstract artwork of a stylized nightingale bird composed of geometric shapes on a deep blue background.
Parviz Tanavoli, Nightingale (To Abby), 1974. Silkscreen on paper, 19 1/2 x 27 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Abstract lithograph featuring a gridded window with red padlocks and colorful geometric shapes.
Parviz Tanavoli, Oh! Nightingale, 1974. Lithograph, 27 3/4 x 20 1/2 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection.…
Woodcut illustration of a Persian tea house scene with musicians and a hookah.
Parviz Tanavoli, Persian Tea House, 1959. Woodcut on paper, 11 1/8 x 8 1/2 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Abstract exhibition poster featuring large stylized figures and bold text reading "TANAVOLI" and "ATELIER KABOUD AVE PAHLAVI 50 2-16 DEC. 1961."
Parviz Tanavoli, Poster for Tanavoli Exhibition, 1961. Silkscreen on paper, 39 1/2 x 27 1/2 in. Grey Art Museum, New York…
Abstract print composed of black and white grid with unique designs in each cell, including faces and geometric shapes.
Parviz Tanavoli, The Fruit of Life, 1964. Lithograph on paper, 20 1/2 x 15 3/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
An abstract artwork with a block of blue text, possibly in Persian calligraphy, and symbols above a blue form composed of dynamic shapes and agular lines against a green background.
Parviz Tanavoli, The Horse of Prophet, 1964. Lithograph on paper, 30 x 19 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Printof two black abstract figures comprised of stached geometric shapes, standing side by side on a white background.
Parviz Tanavoli, Two Figures, 1962. Aquatint on paper, 7 3/8 x 3 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection.…
Computerized print with a central red illustrated apple and the repeated letters A P P L E in various configurations alongside phrases "PRINT APPLE 2," "CONTINUE," "RED," SPACE," SIAH ARMAJANI," "CONTRAL DATA," "67," "STOP."
Siah Armajani, Print Apple 2, 1967. Computerized print, 9 1/2 x 13 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection.…
Print composed of two geometric patterns with vertical rectangular shapes and rounded tops on a light background.
Siah Armajani, Sound Tower, 1972. Lithograph on paper, 30 x 40 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift…
Print showing five figures in white turbans gathered on a hillside, with one playing a lute-like instrument.
Mahmud Javadipur, Persian Picnic, 1961. Woodcut on paper, 21 5/8 x 17 1/2 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Abstract artwork with textured brown, white, and green forms against a dark background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Somnath Hore, Birth of a White Rose, 1961. Etching on paper, 19 3/4 x 17 3/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Abstract artwork of a humanoid figure crouching over an animal form, set against a textured green and brown background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Somnath Hore, Shepherd, 1965. Etching on paper, 11 x 15 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift of…
Abstract depiction of a reclining figure in earthy tones against a dark textured background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Somnath Hore, The Long Nude, 1965. Etching on paper, 15 x 18 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift…
Abstract artwork with a black and gray mesh pattern and red blotches. Alt-text generated by AI.
Chitrangada Krishna, Composition, n.d. Embossed etching and watercolor on paper, 10 1/4 x 8 1/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New…
Abstract artwork with a textured, dark-toned face and vertical lines. Alt-text generated by AI.
Devayani Krishna, Veiled Mask, n.d. Etching on paper, 15 3/4 x 9 7/8 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Abstract artwork with three textured, orange and yellow shapes on a dark, cracked background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Kanwal Krishna, Gay Scorpions, 1962. Etching on paper, 22 1/4 x 18 3/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Abstract artwork with yellow and green sunburst pattern and black overlapping lines on a muted background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Kanwal Krishna, Shivering Sun, 1960. Etching and aquatint on paper, 15 1/4 x 17 1/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University…
Abstract artwork with geometric shapes, textured surfaces, and intersecting lines in shades of gray, red, blue, and black. Alt-text generated by AI.
Krishna Reddy, Bulging Tuatara, c. 1953. Etching on paper, 26 x 19 3/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Abstract artwork with intersecting vertical and horizontal lines over a textured, earth-toned background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Krishna Reddy, Many and the One, 1971. Etching on paper, 16 x 22 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection.…
An abstract artwork with a central brown textured shape surrounded by colorful patterns and intricate lines. Alt-text generated by AI.
Krishna Reddy, Seed Pushing, 1961. Etching on paper, 19 3/4 x 26 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection.…
Abstract artwork featuring stylized figures and symbolic motifs in earthy tones. Alt-text generated by AI.
Mumtaz Sultan Ali, Her Dream, 1969. Etching on paper, 7 x 9 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift of…
Print with hatch-like marks showing people around a fire with horse-drawn wagons above. Alt-text generated by AI.
Nevzat Akoral, Around the Fire, n.d. Woodcut on paper, 27 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Monochromatic print of individuals with baskets and a seated person. Alt-text generated by AI.
Nevzat Akoral, Porters, n.d. Woodcut on paper, 27 3/4 x 19 5/8 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift…
Abstract artwork of a mountain shape with geometric building-like forms on a pale background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Mustafa Aslier, Anatolia, c. 1960. Mixed media and woodcut on paper, 29 1/8 x 19 5/8 in. Grey Art Museum, New York…
An etched artwork showing somber figures in dark robes, separated by a vertical text column. Alt-text generated by AI.
Mustafa Aslier, Exile, c. 1962. Etching on paper, 13 3/4 x 19 5/8 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection.…
Abstract illustration of a central female figure with two smaller figures, featuring geometric patterns and monochromatic tones. Alt-text generated by AI.
Mustafa Aslier, Our Mother, c. 1960. Etching on paper, 19 5/8 x 13 5/8 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Abstract artwork with orange round shapes and black lines on a beige background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Aliye Berger, Composition, n.d. Etching and drypoint on paper, 36 7/8 x 14 5/8 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Abstract artwork featuring bird-like figures on a textured green background. Framed in brown wood. Alt-text generated by AI.
Aliye Berger, The Flying Cranes, 1964. Cardboard cut on paper, 13 3/4 x 11 1/2 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Abstract blue shapes on a pale yellow background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Sabri Berkel, Composition, n.d. Monoprint, 18 1/2 x 14 1/2 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift of…
Abstract animal-like figure in pink, black, and white on a green background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Bedri Rahmi Eyüboglu, Man Carrying a Goat, 1956. Silkscreen on paper, 18 1/4 x 15 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University…
A stylized artwork of a woman carrying a child on her back against a pale blue background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Bedri Rahmi Eyüboglu, Peasant Mother and Child, 1952. Silkscreen on paper, 17 13/16 x 12 13/16 in. Grey Art Museum, New York…
Abstract artwork with a mosaic of vibrant colors, including purple, ochre, and green, featuring intricate patterns and layered textures. Alt-text generated by AI.
Gündüz Gölönü, Resmigeçit, 1969. Etching on paper, 20 x 26 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift of…
Woodcut print of two boats on a shore with bold lines and contrasting patterns. Alt-text generated by AI.
Ercümend Kalmık, Fishing Boat, 1967. Linocut on paper, 16 1/4 x 19 3/8 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art…
Abstract artwork with bold black lines and speckled textures on a colorful background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Fethi Kayaaalp, A Man, n.d. Woodcut on paper, 29 1/3 x 18 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift of…
An abstract dark brown and cream artwork with intricate organic shapes and detailed textures. Alt-text generated by AI.
Fahrelnissa Zeid, Abstraction Black and Gray, n.d. Lithograph on paper, 25 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New York…
An abstract artwork with dense red and black organic shapes and lines against a light central area. Alt-text generated by AI.
Fahrelnissa Zeid, Composition in Red and Blue, n.d. Lithograph on paper, 30 x 22 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University…
Abstract artwork with swirling red, orange, and black patterns on a white background. Alt-text generated by AI.
Fahrelnissa Zeid, Red and Yellow, n.d. Lithograph on paper, 28 x 22 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection.…
Illustration of a yellow ring with a diamond at the top. Alt-text generated by AI.
Donald Baechler, The Lucky Ring, 2008. Silkscreen on paper, 19 x 14 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection.…
Abstract geometric design with pink zigzag stripes, yellow semi-circles, and blue and orange bands. Alt-text generated by AI.
Nicholas Krushenick, Untitled (from the Iron Butterfly portfolio), 1968. Silkscreen on paper, 35 1/2 x 27 1/2 in. Grey Art…
A colorful depiction of a child on a yellow swing with a small dog nearby, framed by a multicolored tree branch. Alt-text generated by AI.
Glenn Ligon, Boy on Tire, 2004. Seriograph print, 41 x 31 1/2 in. Grey Art Museum, New York University Art Collection. Gift…
A well-muscled Black man in blue briefs stands against a mustard yellow background, gazing at the ground with his hands behind his back. Alt-text generated by AI.
Robert Mapplethorpe, Untitled #2, 1985. Photogravure with silkscreen and watercolor, 30 x 24 3/4 in. Grey Art Museum, New…

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