About the Department:
The Modern and Contemporary Art department at The Met is devoted to the study, collection and exhibition of art from 1890 to the present. An era marked by seismic cultural, social and political shifts across the globe, artistic responses to these changes have shaped multiple modernities and diverse contemporary practices. The department is committed to foregrounding the interconnected and richly variegated narratives and experiences that inform the art of this period from around the world.
Historically focused on the art of Western Europe and North America, since 2012 Modern and Contemporary Art has greatly expanded and diversified its collections, especially through works by women and artists of color, with particular emphasis on acquisitions from Latin America, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and African diasporas. Today, its holdings span a range of media, including paintings, sculpture, works on paper, design, decorative arts, and time-based media. The department presents rotating selections from its dynamic collections in its galleries and special projects throughout the museum.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
As the Jacques & Natasha Gelman Associate Curator, you will have expertise in the first half of the twentieth century, particularly in Europe. You will foster new research, scholarship, acquisitions, and displays to highlight, complicate, and resituate this landmark period in art history; and you will seek deeper inroads that enrich our understanding of canonical movements and shed light on underexplored areas. You will collaborate with Conservators and Scientists and act as an advocate within the wider curatorial field thru the publication and presentation of your work within professional forums
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
Engage in actively situating art and artists of this period within an international context, grounding the artists and their work within the most pressing social, political, and aesthetic issues of their time;
Participate in the care of the collection, including potential provenance research, framing, deaccessioning, documentation, and label writing;
Propose art historical narratives, installations, and acquisitions that make this material and period come alive for audiences;
Conduct research and archival work to produce creative and fresh interpretative throughways into historical material;
Communicate scholarly research in a variety of modes-written or through lectures or gallery talks-that accommodate a variety of audience needs;
Work collaboratively across the department and Museum, especially on ongoing projects related to the Tang Wing, The Met's new wing for Modern and Contemporary Art;
Work independently and in collaboration/coordination with curatorial, collections, conservation, advancement, audience engagement, and administrative staff;
Other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:
Master's Degree in Art History, or area of specialty required. PHD or equivalent preferred.
Expertise in early twentieth century art, particularly in Europe.
Experience working with museum collections preferred, including experience in building collections and curating collection displays.
5 years of experience in museum or academic institution;
Proven scholarly achievement in the field of modern and contemporary art, including original research and critical inquiry in publications, exhibitions and public speaking;
Understanding of current curatorial practice and methodologies;
Ability to undertake creation of precise and deeply researched records;
Demonstrated experience organizing collection displays, major exhibitions and educational programs;
Proven project-management skills and ability to work effectively and collaboratively in partnership with other colleagues;
Demonstrated engagement with and knowledge of artistic practice around the world;
Commitment to maintaining a high degree of professionalism and diplomacy;
Experience in cultivating donors and collectors;
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written, oral, visual);
Highly motivated, organized, and detail-oriented;
Ability to contribute to an inclusive and positive work environment;
Demonstrated competence in Met's core capabilities: (a) quality of work, (b) collaboration, (c) communication, and (d) adaptability to change,
Ability to adapt and produce results on multiple projects with shifting priorities.
Facility in at least one European language, especially French or German
Familiarity with the following software: TMS, Adobe Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite.
COMPENSATION RANGE:
Pay Range: $95,000.00 - $100,000.00 / Annually
The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.
