MISSION
The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers. We recognize that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. We are a place of gathering; we foster the exchange of ideas and inspire an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity.
We Offer a Competitive, Comprehensive Benefits Package
About The Department(s)
Spanning 1900 to the present, Modern and Contemporary Art maintains a collection that ranges from the beginnings of the historical avant-gardes to the art of our own time. The collection includes over 3,000 works, including painting, sculpture, installations, time-based media, photography, and works on paper. Wide ranging in geography and scope, with particular strengths in European 20th century avant-gardes, International Surrealism, mid-century and postwar painting and sculpture, as well as the histories and contemporary legacies of Minimal, Post-Minimal, and Conceptual Art, the department maintains a regularly-rotated, and expansive collection presentation over more than 50,000 square feet of dedicated gallery space, encompassing two floors of the Art Institute’s Renzo Piano-designed Modern Wing. The department additionally presents several large-scale and focused exhibitions and programs annually in temporary exhibition galleries, the Donna and Howard Stone Film and Video Gallery, and on the Bluhm Family Terrace, actively collaborating with artists and scholars to
commission and present many live events each year, from performances and screenings to artist’s talks and lectures.
About The Position
Under the direction of the Gary C. and Frances Comer Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, and working alongside staff from across the museum, the research associate assists with research, writing, and content production for the departmental collection, exhibitions, gallery rotations, and reinstallations; conducts art historical and art market research; investigates provenance, including ownership, publication, and exhibition histories for objects; maintains and updates object database records; supports the departmental goals in publishing research about the collection online; and responds to research-related inquiries from scholars, peers, and the public.
Responsibilities
Research: Provides curatorial research support for the departmental collection, exhibitions, loans, acquisitions, and gifts; investigates provenance, including ownership, publication, and exhibition histories for objects; produces acquisition justifications, interpretive content, and exhibition-related materials; conducts art historical and art market research about and related to objects in the permanent collection, loans, and potential acquisitions; produces and ensures accuracy of information presented in the galleries, online, and in the departmental object files and records; and fields requests and inquiries from scholars, peers, and the public.*
Curatorial support: Updates museum database with research findings; as needed, assists with metadata tagging in museum database; participates in the departmental efforts to publish all objects online with comprehensive information. Supports the research for and the preparation of materials for advisory committee meetings. May support various aspects of developing and implementing exhibitions, rotations, reinstallations, and projects as assigned.*
Audience outreach: As needed, gives gallery tours and lectures on the departmental collection and exhibitions; and participates in scholarly symposia and conferences related to collection and exhibition research.
Physical Requirements
The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at [email protected].
UNION INFO
This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31
The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers. We recognize that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. We are a place of gathering; we foster the exchange of ideas and inspire an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity.
We Offer a Competitive, Comprehensive Benefits Package
- Generous paid time off
- Paid holidays (up to 14 days)
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits
- Competitive retirement plan
- Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program
- Great employee discounts
- Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions
About The Department(s)
Spanning 1900 to the present, Modern and Contemporary Art maintains a collection that ranges from the beginnings of the historical avant-gardes to the art of our own time. The collection includes over 3,000 works, including painting, sculpture, installations, time-based media, photography, and works on paper. Wide ranging in geography and scope, with particular strengths in European 20th century avant-gardes, International Surrealism, mid-century and postwar painting and sculpture, as well as the histories and contemporary legacies of Minimal, Post-Minimal, and Conceptual Art, the department maintains a regularly-rotated, and expansive collection presentation over more than 50,000 square feet of dedicated gallery space, encompassing two floors of the Art Institute’s Renzo Piano-designed Modern Wing. The department additionally presents several large-scale and focused exhibitions and programs annually in temporary exhibition galleries, the Donna and Howard Stone Film and Video Gallery, and on the Bluhm Family Terrace, actively collaborating with artists and scholars to
commission and present many live events each year, from performances and screenings to artist’s talks and lectures.
About The Position
Under the direction of the Gary C. and Frances Comer Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, and working alongside staff from across the museum, the research associate assists with research, writing, and content production for the departmental collection, exhibitions, gallery rotations, and reinstallations; conducts art historical and art market research; investigates provenance, including ownership, publication, and exhibition histories for objects; maintains and updates object database records; supports the departmental goals in publishing research about the collection online; and responds to research-related inquiries from scholars, peers, and the public.
Responsibilities
Research: Provides curatorial research support for the departmental collection, exhibitions, loans, acquisitions, and gifts; investigates provenance, including ownership, publication, and exhibition histories for objects; produces acquisition justifications, interpretive content, and exhibition-related materials; conducts art historical and art market research about and related to objects in the permanent collection, loans, and potential acquisitions; produces and ensures accuracy of information presented in the galleries, online, and in the departmental object files and records; and fields requests and inquiries from scholars, peers, and the public.*
Curatorial support: Updates museum database with research findings; as needed, assists with metadata tagging in museum database; participates in the departmental efforts to publish all objects online with comprehensive information. Supports the research for and the preparation of materials for advisory committee meetings. May support various aspects of developing and implementing exhibitions, rotations, reinstallations, and projects as assigned.*
Audience outreach: As needed, gives gallery tours and lectures on the departmental collection and exhibitions; and participates in scholarly symposia and conferences related to collection and exhibition research.
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer; must be able to remain in a stationary position 90% of the time.
- Occasionally moves about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and printer.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to adjust focus, and the ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration.
- Occasionally handles art.
- Master’s degree in Art History or related field with emphasis on early 20th-century modern art required
- Minimum 1-2 years' experience doing research in an early 20th century modern art curatorial museum department required.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google suites required; ability to learn museum-specific collection database systems
- Reading ability in German or French required. Possess additional knowledge of foreign languages as appropriate to areas of specialty.
- Experience with object-based research and best practices of provenance research and documentation
- The successful candidate should:
- be highly detail-oriented and organized;
- demonstrate initiative;
- embrace the museum’s commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable institution;
- have an open-minded and collaborative approach to working and communicating with all colleagues across the museum;
- and have strong research, writing, communication, multitasking, project management, and organizational skills.
The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at [email protected].
UNION INFO
This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31