Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia seeks a visionary and energetic scholar to serve as the McKinnon Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Assistant/Associate level. They will lead a program of relevant and engaging exhibitions and curate the collection of Modern and Contemporary Art after 1945. The McKinnon Curator will engage broadly with the Hampton Roads community and both the national and the international art scene to activate the collection and raise its profile.
The McKinnon Curator is responsible for the exhibition, interpretation, study, and care of works of Modern and Contemporary Art in the Museum’s collection. The ideal candidate will be curious, creative, and collegial, have experience in developing a major collection, have a strong network of connections with important contemporary artists and galleries, be a respected scholar and strong writer, comfortable with public speaking, adept at cultivating collectors and reaching out to diverse audiences. The McKinnon Curator will have experience in originating exhibitions, and will contribute to the Chrysler’s efforts to generate and tour significant new exhibition projects and publications.
The Chrysler’s holdings of art from 1945 to the present are especially strong in the areas of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art with significant works by Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Helen Frankenthaler, as well as Roy Lichtenstein, Idelle Weber, Andy Warhol, and Beauford Delaney. Prominent works from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s include major paintings by Barkley Hendricks, Martin Wong, Robert Colescott, and Jaune Quick- to – See Smith among many others. The collection continues to grow with more recent acquisitions of contemporary works by Kehinde Wiley, Kota Ezawa, Sonya Clark, McArthur Binion, Anila Agha and Wangechi Mutu. The McKinnon Curator will continue to develop these collection areas and strategize with other curators to develop the Chrysler collection overall with the aim of diversifying the museum’s holdings and seeking out new ways to engage the public.
The McKinnon Curator will also have a proven track record of successful grant fundraising and project management. Duties will include overseeing two postgraduate fellows—a conservator and curator—as part of a three-year partnership with the Hampton University Museum designed to diversify those professions. Funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the project provides training for recent graduates entering the museum field, enhances the existing inter-museum partnership, and initiates a program of collection-sharing that will bring understudied material to light for scholars and the public.
Requirements:
Master’s degree in Art History or related field with a broad general background in the history of art and a specialization in Modern and/or Contemporary Art is required, PhD preferred. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of three years of curatorial experience with a track record of exhibitions, acquisitions, research, and publications. Special knowledge on topics of contemporary concern such as the environment, indigeneity, race, and gender is welcome. Experience with museum operations including development of exhibitions is expected, as is the ability to interpret collections for the educational and aesthetic enjoyment of a broad and diverse public.
Interested candidates should submit CV, cover letter, and three (3) references via email to:
Mirna Blair, Head of Human Resources
Chrysler Museum of Art
One Memorial Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
mblair@chrysler.org
757-333- 6270
ABOUT THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART
The Chrysler Museum of Art is one of America’s most distinguished mid-sized art museums, with a nationally recognized collection of more than 30,000 objects, including one of the great glass collections in America. The core of the Chrysler’s collection comes from Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., an avid art collector who donated thousands of objects from his private collection to the Museum. The Museum has growing collections in many areas and mounts an ambitious schedule of visiting exhibitions and educational programs each season. The Chrysler has also been recognized nationally for its unique commitment to hospitality with its innovative gallery host program.
The Perry Glass Studio is a state-of-the-art facility on the Museum’s campus. The studio offers programming for aspiring and master artists alike in a variety of processes including glassblowing, fusing, flameworking, coldworking and neon.
In addition, the Chrysler Museum of Art administers the Moses Myers House, a historic house in downtown Norfolk, as well as the Jean Outland Chrysler Library. For more information on the Chrysler Museum of Art, visit chrysler.org.