Remembering Margot Wellington
The Municipal Art Society mourns the passing of our former Executive Director Margot Wellington, a devoted advocate for New York City’s public realm and a cherished leader in our community.
Under Margot’s visionary leadership, MAS grew from a small club into a thriving organization with thousands of members. In 1980 she led the opening of the Urban Center in the historic Villard Houses, creating one of the city’s most vital hubs for conversation about urban life. For three decades the Urban Center was a shared home for MAS, the Architectural League of New York, and New Yorkers for Parks, with two exhibition galleries and a robust program schedule that welcomed architects, planners, advocates, and curious New Yorkers eager to shape the future of their city.
Margot also co-founded the MAS Brendan Gill Prize alongside her fellow Board members Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Helen Tucker. Her commitment to the prize reflected her abiding belief in the importance of creativity, civic beauty, and the individuals whose work deepens our understanding and appreciation of the urban environment.
Margot’s passion for thoughtful planning, preservation, and civic life strengthened neighborhoods across the city and reflected a deep belief in community stewardship for future generations. Those who had the privilege of knowing Margot remember not only her leadership and generosity, but also her warmth, curiosity, and elegant spirit. She was a thoughtful friend, a dedicated civic presence, and an enduring source of encouragement to artists, preservationists, and cultural leaders alike.
MAS extends its heartfelt condolences to Margot’s family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. Her legacy will continue to resonate through the cultural and civic institutions she helped sustain, and she will be deeply missed.