Skip to main content
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.
We are open today 11 AM—6 PM Join Us Shop Visit
Back to Top

Interactive Art History Map: Explore the World of Abby Weed Grey

The World of Abby Weed Grey is an interactive map that offers a look at the travels and art collection process of the museum's founder, Abby Weed Grey, as she put together a collection that reflected her global vision and interest in local contemporary artists. 

This StoryMap was created by the Grey's Graduate Intern Katelyn Wattendorf as part of a New York University Brine Digital Humanities fellowship.

Webpage showing a map with purple location markers and an artwork titled "Water-birds" on the left. The text on the page reads: Grey Art Gallery. The World of Abby Weed Grey. Welcome. Part I: 1960. Part II: 1961-1962. Part III: 1964. Part IV: 1965-1967. Part V: 1968-1969. Credits. Tokyo, Japan. March 20–26, 1960. Work acquired: Yas Kobashi, Water-birds, n.d. (G1975.341). Woodcut on paper. Journal excerpt: “Watching the life that was going on around me, I felt a surge of confidence that came from my first successful venture on my own into the world of art. And as I rode back to the hotel in a taxi that had been summoned for me, surrounded by the lights, the people, the color and movement, I felt completely at home and completely alive . . .”
Screenshot of The World of Abby Weed Grey, an ArcGIS StoryMap Screenshot of The World of Abby Weed Grey, an ArcGIS StoryMap

Access the StoryMap.

Before founding the Grey Art Gallery and Study Center—now, Grey Art Museum—at NYU in 1975, Abby Weed Grey spent fifteen years traveling the world as an art collector. A self-proclaimed "dyed-in-the-wool Midwesterner," her travels took her far from her home state of Minnesota, most often to the countries of the Middle East. Excerpts from Abby's 1983 book The Picture Is the Window, The Window Is the Picture (New York University Press) help illuminate her worldview and collecting practices.

Credits

This StoryMap, originally created by Katelyn Wattendorf as a Brine Digital Humanities Scholar at New York University (NYU), was first published on September 15, 2020. Note that the date on the title page is the date of last revision.

Special thanks to:

  • Michèle Wong, Associate Director|Head of Collections and Exhibitions, Grey Art Gallery, NYU
  • Laurie Duke, Head of Finance and Administration, Grey Art Gallery, NYU
  • Lucy Oakley, Head of Education and Programs, Grey Art Gallery, NYU
  • Noah Landfield, Preparator, Grey Art Gallery, NYU
  • Thomas Augst, Associate Professor, Department of English, NYU
  • Deena Engel, Clinical Professor Emerita, Department of Computer Science, NYU
  • Joe Versoza, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, NYU