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You will be updated with latest job alerts via emailAqu Estamos!: Latinx Art at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Call for Applications: Postdoctoral Curatorial Research Fellowship Latinx Art
Deadline to apply: June 27th 2025
Project Description
Latinx art is an integral yet thus far significantly underrecognized part of American art. The MFAH understands Latinx art as work produced by artists of Latin American descent who were born or are active in the United States. This includes but is not limited to those who identify as Chicana/o Puerto Rican/Nuyorican Mexican American Dominican American Cuban American as well as others born in Central South America or the Caribbean who have made the United States their country of residence. Despite Latinx artists critical contributions to U.S. art histories their work has not benefitted from the same level of representation and visibility as their peers in mainstream arts institutions or university classrooms. The MFAH and its International Center for the Arts of the Americas(ICAA) are working to address this omission via Aqu Estamos!: Latinx Art at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. This multiyear institutionwide initiative aims to transform this emergent field by opening critical pathways for the study and exhibition of Latinx art and artists within a major encyclopedic museum.
Aqu Estamos! will provide handson training for future museum and research professionals focused on Latinx art by placing fellows in Museum departments including Curatorial Conservation Learning and Interpretation and the ICAA. Mentored by key MFAH staff emerging professionals and scholars will participate in an array of projects including the ICAA Latinx Papers Project. Fellows will benefit from the unique opportunity to engage in the deep study of Latinx art within a cohort of Aqu Estamos! fellows. Opportunities for collaboration and professional development will be facilitated by regular project meetings workshops centered on critical issues in the field and collaborative projects ranging from the development of collection object studies interpretative materials public programs and/or publications.
Fellowship Description:
Key to the multiyear Aqu Estamos!: Latinx Art at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston initiative are emerging researchers who are wellpositioned to make a significant contribution to the project. Fellowship opportunities recognize the importance of early career exposure to objectbased research and curatorial practices in cultivating the next generation of scholars and curators in the field of Latinx art.
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is offering a Postdoctoral Curatorial Research Fellow the opportunity to assist the MFAH department of Latin American and Latino Art in the study of Latinx artworks in the Museums collections as well as in the research and identification of works by Latinx artists for potential acquisition. The fellow will also collaborate with fellows and staff in the departments of Conservation and Learning and Interpretation to engage in the interdisciplinary study of existing works in the MFAH collection. Additionally the Curatorial Research Fellow will contribute to the development of collection displays and public programs that center on Latinx artists. The creation of this Postdoctoral Fellowship complements the establishment of a restricted Latino Art Fund aimed at increasing the Museums holdings in this area through targeted acquisitions.
This is a fulltime twelvemonth appointment with a possible oneyear renewal contingent upon performance.
Candidates must demonstrate scholarly excellence and an academic focus in Latinx art and culture. Applicants with backgrounds historically underrepresented in museum professions are strongly encouraged to apply.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Qualifications and Requirements:
Stipend:
The Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow Latinx Art will receive a $53000 award and $3500 allowance for researchrelated travel each year. Support for relocation to Houston is also available. The Postdoctoral Curatorial Research Fellow is eligible to receive benefits from the MFAH.
Residency:
The Postdoctoral Fellow will be in residency at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and will participate fully in the activities of the Latin American and Latino Art department throughout the fellowship period. The fellow has access to the notable resources represented by the MFAH art collections the International Center for the Arts of the Americas the MFAH Hirsch Library and other specialized research libraries and collections in the Houston area.
Anticipated Term:
The anticipated term is September 8th 2025August 28th 2026 but adjustments will be considered if needed. Please note that this fellowship cannot be deferred.
Application Instructions:
Qualified applicants should apply online which will be the most effective way to ensure consideration.
Please submit the following materials to MFAH Careers by June 27th 2025:
Applications or letters of interest sent via mail fax or direct email to a staff member will not ensure consideration. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
About the MFAH
The MFAH is an organization comprised of 600 employees and 1000 docents and volunteers. The museum is more than 100 years old and ranks nationally among the top 10 art museums in exhibition space memberships endowments and attendance with 1M visitors annually. Our multifaceted institution includes multiple gallery buildings a sculpture garden two art schools three eateries and two house museums for decorative arts. The encyclopedic collection numbers more than 70000 works of art in a wide range of media. As an employer MFAH offers a supportive collegial and inclusive work environment and a competitive benefits package.
Department Overview
The MFAH is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of Latin American and Latinx art. Over the last 20 years the Museum built a core collection of postWorld War II modern and contemporary art with over 850 emblematic works in all media from Mexico Central and South America the Caribbean and the United States. During this time the MFAH acquired works by major Latinx artists including Allora & Calzadilla Carlos Almaraz Margarita Cabrera Mara Magdalena Campos Pons Adriana Corral Teresita Fernndez Jay Lynn Gomez Luis Jimnez Carmen Lomas Garza Csar A. Martnez Daniel Jospeh Martinez Narsiso Martinez Antonio Martorell Ana Mendieta Amalia MesaBains Camilo Ontiveros John M. Valadez and Vincent Valdez. To date the Museums holdings in this area encompass 400 works by 70 artists.
In 2001 the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) established the Latin American Art Department and its research arm the International Center for the Arts of the Americas (ICAA). The mission of the ICAA is to collect exhibit research and educate audiences about the diverse artistic production of Latin American and Latinx communities. The ICAA organizes researchbased exhibitions maintains a dynamic publications program and develops research and education projects that complement the MFAHs renowned collections of Latin American and Latino art. The ICAAs cornerstone initiative is the Documents of Latin American and Latino Art digital archive project which is dedicated to recovering primary source documents and critical texts related to Latin American and Latinx art and making them accessible to a worldwide audience.
Position Available:
Title: Postdoctoral Curatorial Research Fellow Latinx Art
Academic Level: PhD in art history or related field; qualified ABD candidates may also be considered
Supervisor: Dr. Mari Carmen Ramrez
Department: Curatorial
Term: Fulltime twelve months (September 2025August 2026)
Term: September 2025August 2026
Location: The Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Work Schedule
Fulltime exempt oneyear position with a regular inperson work schedule (MF 35 hrs/wk). Hybrid work options may be considered after the 90day introductory period.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
With or without reasonable accommodation the individual selected must have the capacity to perform effectively all essential functions. In addition to the other demands mentioned the demands of the job may or will include:
Equal Opportunities for All
At the MFAH we believe that diversity equity accessibility and inclusivity are fundamental to our organization. We welcome all candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our organization and our pledge for workplace diversity inclusion and excellence.
Our commitment to our policy and practice of nondiscrimination represents more than good intentions. It provides for employment decisions that are made without regard to race creed color age gender sexual orientation religion national origin gender identity or expression genetic information disability or veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established by law or any other reason unrelated to your ability to join and contribute to our organization and support our mission to provide a museum experience for all.
Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that an applicant meets 100% of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore if much of this job description describes you then you are highly encouraged to apply for this role.
The MFAH is equally committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals interested in employment with the organization. As part of this commitment we want to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation needed to 1) participate in the job application or 2) interview process; 3) perform essential job functions; and/or 4) participate in the benefits and privileges of employment with the MFAH. If reasonable accommodation is needed please contact the human resources department: .
Benefits:
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston offers an excellent benefits package that includes:
The MFAH provides a generous schedule for time off under the following benefit categories:
Other Benefits
Full-Time