About

MISSION AND VALUES

The Grey Art Gallery, New York University’s fine arts museum, enables and encourages transformative encounters with works of art. Engaging with challenging issues in the study of material culture, the Grey serves as a museum-laboratory, sparking interdisciplinary scholarship. Uniquely positioned to cultivate visual literacy and critical thinking, the Grey shares NYU’s fundamental commitment as a global research university to advance knowledge of different cultures, contexts, and histories across time. The Grey also fosters experiential learning through its collections and participates in the cultural, intellectual, and environmental spheres of NYU’s Global Network, of New York City, and of the broader world.

The Grey Art Gallery and its staff promote the following values:

Innovative scholarship—we are dedicated to producing rigorous scholarship that expands the art historical canon and presents new ideas, both to strengthen the academic community and to enrich learning for our broader audiences.

Inclusion—we actively address inequity and injustice, and seek to empower staff, students, faculty, and community members of all backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

Access—we strive to create a culture of mutually beneficial engagement that provides opportunities for all students and viewers to build cultural capital, learn about careers in the arts, and inform the museum’s goals and vision.

Interdisciplinary learning, engagement, and community outreach—we cultivate encounters with a range of disciplines, time periods, and global perspectives, and foster collaborative relationships across NYU as well as with peer institutions and community-based organizations, providing opportunities for multifaceted education.

HISTORY

The Grey Art Gallery is located within New York University’s Silver Center–the site of NYU’s original home, the legendary University Building (1835 to 1892). Winslow Homer, Daniel Huntington, Samuel Colt, George Innes, and Henry James all lived and worked there, as did Professor Samuel F. B. Morse, who established the first academic fine arts department in America on the site now occupied by the Grey Art Gallery.

Demolished in 1892, the original building was replaced by the Main Building (renamed the Silver Center in 2002). Here was located, from 1927 to 1942, A. E. Gallatin’s Museum of Living Art, NYU’s first art museum and the first institution in this country to exhibit work by Picasso, Léger, Mirò, Mondrian, Arp and members of the American Abstract Artists group. Gallatin aspired to create a forum for intellectual exchange, a place where artists would congregate to acquaint themselves with the latest developments in contemporary art. In 1975, with a generous gift from Mrs. Abby Weed Grey, the Museum’s original space was renovated, offices and a collection storage facility were added, and the doors were reopened as the Grey Art Gallery.

Exhibitions organized by the Grey Art Gallery encompass aspects of all the visual arts: painting, sculpture, drawing and printmaking, photography, architecture and decorative arts, video, film, and performance. In addition to originating its own exhibitions, some of which travel throughout the United States and abroad, the Gallery hosts traveling exhibitions.

Award-winning scholarly publications, distributed worldwide, are published by the Grey Art Gallery. In conjunction with its exhibitions, the Grey also sponsors public programs, including lectures, symposia, panel discussions, and films.

FAQ

Where are you located?

The Grey Art Gallery is housed within New York University’s Silver Center for Arts and Science, and the visitor entrance is at 100 Washington Square East, NYC 10003. Please find more information about visitor access in the “Visit” tab.

What is the cost of admission?

The museum is free to all NYU students, faculty, and staff. There is a suggested donation of $5 for all other museum visitors.

How do I arrange for a group visit or tour?

Planning to visit as a group? If there are 10 or more people in your party, please fill out one of the forms on our Group Visit page so we know how many people to expect and what specific needs and goals you may have for your visit.

Does the Grey have public restrooms?

There are no public restrooms at the Grey Art Gallery at this time. The closest public restroom is in Washington Square Park.

Is the Grey available for private event rentals?

Unfortunately, the museum is not available for rental.

Can the Gallery appraise my artwork or artifacts?

The Grey staff does not authenticate or perform appraisals of works of art or artifacts for the public. We suggest that you consult a certified appraiser or auction house. You may also contact the Appraisers Association of America to get more information on certain types of appraisals.

I’m an artist. Can I send you information about my work?

The Grey Art Gallery does not accept unsolicited artist submissions, and we cannot respond to or return unsolicited material.

I have an idea for an exhibition. Can I send it to you?

We are currently not accepting exhibition proposals. Please visit the “Submission Guidelines” page for more information.

Are large bags permitted on-site?

If you arrive carrying a bag or backpack larger than 11 x 14 in. we will ask you to check it in with the front desk.

Is the Grey accessible to people with disabilities?

Yes, the Gallery is accessible to people with disabilities. Please call (212) 998-6780 for information.

Are mobile devices permitted in the galleries?

You may text or tweet during your visit. However, please set your phone to vibrate and take all voice calls outside of the galleries.

Is filming allowed in the museum?

No. Filming is not allowed inside of the Grey.

I’d like to donate a work of art to the Grey. What should I do?

Given our limited storage, the Grey Art Gallery does not actively acquire or accept many works into the NYU Art Collection. Furthermore, donations that are accepted usually complement the strengths of the NYU collections such as Downtown New York or Modern Asian and Middle Eastern Art. To submit art for consideration, supply a digital photograph and basic information about the work (title, artist, year, dimensions, acquisition history) to greyartgallery@nyu.edu. The Grey cannot advise collectors regarding the value of their artwork nor can the Grey’s staff provide authentication services.

Can I give to the Grey?

Absolutely! The “Support” page explains different ways to give to the Grey.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

As of April 2022, the Grey Art Gallery at NYU has put a temporary pause on exhibition proposals and will not be able to respond to submissions. For your reference, the following instructions will remain online during this pause.

The Grey Art Gallery will review proposals from curators and art institutions. However, before submitting a proposal, please keep in mind that given our staff size, the academic calendar, and limited resources, the Grey hosts only three exhibitions a year, one of which we originate ourselves, and is typically booked three years in advance. Additionally, the Grey shows relatively few solo exhibitions of contemporary artists since there are so many New York venues dedicated to this purpose. Although our shows are certainly diverse, they tend to be more historical in nature and are usually presented in collaboration with NYU faculty and staff.

Please take time to view our website, look into previously held exhibitions, and consider our mission before submitting your proposal.

To submit a proposal, please mail the following items to the Grey Art Gallery.

  • A written statement
  • A printed sample of images to be included in the exhibition (no digital files, please)
  • Budget
  • Space requirements

Mail to:
Grey Art Gallery
New York University
31 Washington Place
Basement
New York, NY 10003

Due to the high volume of proposals we receive, it may take up to six months to respond to your submission. We cannot return any proposal materials.

STAFF

Director
Lynn Gumpert

Associate Director | Head of Collections and Exhibitions
Michèle Wong

Head of Finance and Administration
Laurie Duke

Head of Education and Programs
Leah G. Sweet

Exhibitions and Publications Manager
Allegra Favila

Chief Preparator
Richard Wager

Preparator
Noah Landfield

Administrative Assistant
Eric Oresick

Assistant to the Director | Press Officer
Aliese Andersen Volk