Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art | Department of Painting and Sculpture

The Museum:

Founded in 1929 as an educational institution The Museum of Modern Art is dedicated to being the foremost museum of modern and contemporary art in the world. Through the leadership of its trustees and staff the Museum manifests this commitment by establishing preserving and documenting a collection of the highest order that reflects the vitality complexity and unfolding patterns of modern and contemporary art; by presenting exhibitions and educational programs of unparalleled significance; by sustaining a library archives and conservation laboratory that are recognized as international centers of research; and by supporting scholarship and publications of preeminent intellectual merit.

Central to the Museums mission is the encouragement of an ever-deepening understanding and enjoyment of modern and contemporary art by the diverse local national and international audiences that it serves.

The Opportunity:

The Museum of Modern Art is currently accepting applications for an Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art in the Department of Painting and Sculpture. The Museum of Modern Art is the repository of the worlds largest and most inclusive collection of modern painting and sculpture comprising some 4000 works dating from the late nineteenth century to the present day. The Painting and Sculpture Department produces a rigorous and innovative program of acquisitions exhibitions and scholarship.

Under the leadership of the Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis Chief Curator of Painting and Sculpture the Assistant Curators role will include assisting in the organizing of exhibitions and programs; authoring exhibition catalogues and other publications; expanding and deepening the collection through acquisitions; and managing and mentoring junior staff.

Responsibilities:

• Under the direction of the Chief Curator assists senior curators with all aspects of an exhibitions development and administration including research and conceptualization of and planning for exhibition displays preparing checklists budget planning arranging loans conducting provenance research team coordination and managing exhibition and publication production timelines. After gaining experience with departmental procedures and practices the Assistant Curator may also have the opportunity to independently organize smaller-scale exhibitions or projects.
• Performs collection and exhibition display support functions including bibliographic and checklist research cataloguing loan correspondence publication research and production website development and public program planning.
• Performs scholarly research and writing for catalogues brochures and exhibition didactics including text panels labels and other explanatory texts as required. When appropriate solicits essays for MoMA publications from scholars in the field.
• Assists in the maintenance of the collection and loans and expedites arrangements for custodial registration conservation and preparation work as required in the gallery study and storage areas.
• Works closely with other curatorial departments in the Museum as well as external contacts and artists.
• Engages with a wide range of supporters including Trustees Committee members Museum members and donors. Activities include lectures tours collection and studio visits and ongoing conversations.
• Serves as point person liaising with the departments of Exhibition Planning and Administration Exhibition Design and Production Collection Management and Exhibition Registration Learning and Engagement Graphics Marketing and Audience Strategy Communications and Public Affairs Individual Philanthropy and Publications.
• Performs regular gallery and studio visits and follows the development of emerging as well as established artists to maintain awareness of the whole contemporary art field.
• Considers researches and recommends potential gifts or purchases of contemporary art works to the Chief Curator and presents to the Committee on Painting and Sculpture.
• Keeps informed of current activity in the area of departmental interest through gallery and museum visits publications etc. and makes recommendations to senior staff.
• Produces quarterly list of gallery and exhibition viewings to share with Painting and Sculpture Committee members.
• Manages and mentors junior staff including Department Assistants Curatorial Assistants Fellows Research Assistants Interns and other junior staff as designated by the Chief Curator.
• Performs any other duties reasonably related to the functions described above.

Requirements:

• Masters degree or higher in 20th and 21st century art history and four or more years of relevant curatorial experience within a museum environment or related setting preferred.
• Knowledge of the Department of Painting and Sculptures modern and contemporary collections. General familiarity with the area of departmental interests and 20th century art.
• Deeply passionate about art is held in high regard by members of the field for stellar work and has a commitment to excellence and a deep curatorial expertise.
• Superior research and writing skills are essential.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written; superior presentation skills; sound judgment.
• Ability to recommend and solicit acquisitions and gifts for the collection.
• Facile with a variety of digital platforms and able to adapt exhibition and publication content for different media.
• Strong organizational skills; able to set priorities yet maintain flexibility in order to respond quickly to new opportunities.
• Diplomatic and friendly demeanor with a willingness to and a talent for engaging and connecting with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to manage projects and deadlines independently and maintain simultaneous priorities. Proficiency in a digital environment required.
• Ability to travel as assigned.
• Fluency in one or more language in addition to English.

Reports to: The Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis Chief Curator of Painting and Sculpture

Salary: The salary for this position is $97271 (gross) per annum

Application instructions: To apply please visit MoMA Jobs. Applicants should submit a resume and a statement of interest. Applications without cover letters will not be considered.

Application deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a deadline of October 17 2025. After which the job posting will be closed.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement: Equal Employment Opportunity has been and will continue to be a fundamental principle at the Museum where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race color religion sex age national origin disability pregnancy genetic information military or veteran status sexual orientation gender gender identity or expression marital and civil partnership/union status alienage or citizenship status creed genetic predisposition or carrier status unemployment status familial status domestic violence sexual violence or stalking victim status caregiver status arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law credit history or any other protected category as established by applicable law including the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL).

This is a unionized position at MoMA with covered employees represented by Local 2110 UAW AFL-CIO.