Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow

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Introduction

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.

Position Summary
The Art Institute’s collection of Southeast Asian art is one of the department of Arts of Asia’s most distinctive collections, presenting a rich opportunity for new research, interpretation, and display. The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship builds on a series of collection-based curatorial projects currently underway in the department of Arts of Asia and complements the museum’s Curatorial Documentation and Research initiative, which centralizes provenance research as a scholarly inquiry across the museum.

We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow to serve as a thought partner with the department, collaborating on research and collection activity under the supervision of the Alsdorf Associate Curator of Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art. The fellow will cultivate research resources and maintain a portfolio of ongoing projects in their primary area of focus, lending their unique skills and building their expertise to support the museum’s approach to the interpretation and documentation of the permanent collection.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Perform provenance and documentation review of the collection and collaborate with curators to set a research and cataloging agenda for targeted collecting categories.
Document findings in the museum’s collection database, author object entries, and contribute to other relevant museum publications.
Conduct primary and secondary research to propose new narratives and curatorial directions for these collections in gallery rotations and accompanying interpretation.
Play an active role in the Arts of Asia provenance working group to discuss findings and strategize research on relevant questions.
Participate in ongoing discussions on research methods and findings across the museum.
While the Fellow’s home base will be the departments of Arts of Asia and Curatorial Documentation and Research, duties will be performed in collaboration with many other departments at the museum, including Conservation and Science, Imaging, Publishing, Learning and Public Engagement, and the Research Center.

Qualifications

A PhD in art history or a closely related field, with a strong research focus on the art and archeology of mainland Southeast Asia and adjacent areas. The ideal candidate would bring a high level of expertise with the history, art, and archeology of South and Southeast Asia to advance the department’s scholarship on this important collection and a general background in Asian art to guide the department’s provenance projects.
Fluency in French and proficiency in one or more Southeast Asian or Indian languages would be a particular advantage.
Candidates should submit a CV, a cover letter detailing the candidate’s interest in applying for the fellowship, and qualifications that the candidate would bring to the position, along with a list of at least three professional references. Upon invitation to interview, further supporting materials (such as writing samples) may be requested. Attachments should be collated into a single PDF document and uploaded as one file.

The fellowship will begin in September 2022. This is a three-year appointment. The fellowship includes benefits, a modest relocation allowance, a stipend for research/professional development, and funds for project support.

Special Project Position
This is a 3 year special projects position

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Closing Statement
Vaccination Expectation

Becoming vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 is the most important contribution we as individuals can make to ensure our own safety and the safety of our museum and school community. All employees must complete an attestation and provide proof of their vaccination and booster status, or request a medical or religious exemption within the first week of employment.

The Art Institute of Chicago is an equal opportunity, equal access employer fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe in a staff culture that benefits from a wide range of experience, backgrounds, and career paths, and we encourage nontraditional candidates to apply.