Hell Gate Bridge, New York. Getty Museum public domain dedication.

Abbott was born in Springfield, Ohio, and later moved to New York City, where she studied sculpture. She became interested in photography and worked as an assistant to the famous photographer Man Ray in Paris. Abbott is known for her black and white photographs of New York City architecture, which she began taking in the 1930s. She also documented the city's changing urban landscape over several decades. Abbott's work has been exhibited in major museums around the world, and she has received numerous awards and honours for her contributions to photography. Her legacy as a photographer continues to inspire and influence artists today.