Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art

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Richard Armstrong Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art

Carnegie Museum of Art creates experiences that connect people to art, ideas, and one another. We believe creativity is a defining human characteristic to which everyone should have access. CMOA collects, preserves, and presents artworks from around the world to inspire, sustain, and provoke discussion, and to engage and reflect multiple audiences.

Carnegie Museum of Art is arguably the first museum of contemporary art in the United States, collecting the “Old Masters of tomorrow” since the inception of the Carnegie International in 1896. Today, the museum is one of the most dynamic major art institutions in America. Our collection of more than 30,000 objects features a broad spectrum of visual arts, including painting and sculpture; prints and drawings; photographs; architectural casts, renderings, and models; decorative arts and design; and film, video, and digital imagery. Through our programming, exhibitions, and publications, we frequently explore the role of art and artists in confronting key social issues of our time, combining and juxtaposing local and global perspectives. With our unique history and resources, we strive to become a leader in defining the role of art museums for the 21st century.

Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is interested in candidates who, through their experience and collaborations, will contribute to diversity and excellence of the Carnegie Museums community.

The Richard Armstrong Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art is a motivated, intellectually curious, and highly collaborative professional who oversees the presentation, loan, and development of CMOA’s collection of contemporary art, comprising approximately 6,000 works across media dating from 1945 to the present. An essential member of the museum’s curatorial team, the Curator provides programmatic vision, long range planning for the collection, staff management, and artistic leadership to advance the museum’s strategic goals. They organize/co-organize original collection- and loan-based temporary exhibitions; identify and coordinate borrowed exhibitions for presentation at CMOA; oversee gallery rotations of the permanent collection; conduct research and interpret artworks; shape the collection through gifts and purchases; and evaluate and assess holdings as part of an overall collections plan, including deaccessioning. The Curator also works collaboratively with and alongside the Curator of the Carnegie International, North America’s premier ongoing international survey of contemporary art established in 1896. The Curator cultivates and maintains strategic relationships with the regional, national, and international contemporary art community, including artists, museum colleagues, prospective donors, friends of the Carnegie International, and other affinity groups. They nurture relationships and partnerships with local organizations to increase awareness of CMOA and expand its base of supporters; actively participate in fundraising and audience development efforts; and represent the museum through lectures, juries, events, and publications locally, nationally, and internationally.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: The position requires strong organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving capabilities—including the ability to be an effective leader, motivator, and team member—as well as exceptional oral and written communication skills. The Curator must be a creative thinker, innovative exhibition maker, and enthusiastic advocate for the evolution of art museums in the 21st century. Knowledge about the field of contemporary art, including familiarity with artists and professional counterparts, nationally and internationally, is essential. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, standard business software, and basic office equipment is required. The Curator will be expected to gain familiarity with KE EMu, CMOA’s collection’s management system, and project management applications such as Asana.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: The position requires a master’s degree in art history, curatorial studies, or other related field and at least five years of progressively responsible curatorial experience in a museum setting; and equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. The Curator must have a proven track record of curatorial achievement, including art acquisitions, exhibitions, and publications on modern and contemporary art. Area(s) of specialization should be relevant to CMOA’s collection. The Curator’s record of experience must also reveal deep knowledge of and commitment to the latest developments in critical curatorial practice and theory as well as focused engagement in key social issues facing art museums today.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work is primarily sedentary in nature and no special demands are required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Builds CMOA’s world-class collection of art by recommending acquisitions through gift and/or purchase; develops and maintains department-based collection plan.
Conceives and oversees rotations of the permanent collection galleries; collaborates with curatorial colleagues on collection-based presentations, research initiatives, and reinstallations.
Conducts and shares scholarly research to inform provenance documentation, conservation strategy, deaccession prospects, and other collection functions.
Organizes collection- and loan-based exhibitions; identifies and oversees borrowed exhibitions for presentation at the museum.
Collaborates with staff to ensure that curatorial projects are realized in a timely manner and on budget.
Collaborates with the Curator of the Carnegie International and related partners and staff to ensure the International aligns with and amplifies broader goals for contemporary art across the museum.
Vets and negotiates outgoing loans from the collection to other institutions; liaises with borrowers as needed.
Interprets works of art for the museum’s audiences through lectures, brochures, publications, labels, wall texts, digital media, and other forms.
Cultivates advantageous relationships with the professional community, CMOA Advisory Board, prospective donors and affinity groups, as well as with local community organizations to increase awareness of the museum and expand its base of supporters.
Actively participates in fundraising and audience development initiatives as needed.
Travels to pursue acquisitions, scholarly research, relationships, and beneficial contacts on behalf of the museum.
Represents the museum nationally and internationally at art fairs, conferences, openings, and other art world events; assists with the planning of donor cultivation trips as needed.
Performs other duties, including contributing to museum-wide planning efforts and initiatives, as assigned.