Curator

Reporting to the Curator, the Alice and Allan Kaplan Assistant Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture will provide curatorial oversight of one of the premier collections of fine art of the United States, ranging in date from the colonial period to the mid-twentieth century, and facilitate future collection growth in Latin American art. Best known for its holdings of colonial and early national portraiture and history painting, Gilded Age realism, and early twentieth-century modernism, the American collection is actively expanding and diversifying in scope and depth. The department is fully integrated with the teaching mission of the Gallery and the University as well as dedicated to serving the wider public of New Haven and Southern New England. In partnership with the Curator, the Assistant Curator will plan exhibitions, programs, and publications; direct conservation projects and gallery installations; lecture on aspects of the department’s holdings; initiate research on acquisitions, loans, and on the permanent collection; field public inquiries; and assume stewardship and donor cultivation responsibilities.

Conceive and implement exhibitions, publications, and interpretive projects designed to promote knowledge of the collection, including public programs, wall texts and labels, brochures and instructional ephemera, digital records, and permanent collection catalogues. Research and execute proposals for acquisitions through gift and purchase that build on existing collection strengths in American and Latin America art and develop proposals for deaccessioning. Contribute to and assist in the maintenance of the collection database and its accessibility through the Gallery’s website. Manage departmental archives; facilitate access to works of art and collection storage for faculty, students, and visiting scholars; assist with oversight of conservation of the collection. In collaboration with Conservation, evaluate the suitability of loan requests and perform courier duties as necessary. Assist with fundraising for exhibitions, acquisitions, and departmental projects.

Assist with stewardship of Governing Board members, donors, collectors of American and Latin American art, students, and faculty. Represent the curatorial department on Gallery committees and represent the Gallery and University to local, national, and international communities to promote the institution and its collection. Other projects and travel as requested by the Curator. Additional teaching, publishing, and lecturing in the candidate’s area of expertise are strongly encouraged.

Essential Duties

1. Cares for, coordinates, and facilitates access to the collection.
2. Discusses the condition and breadth of the collection with other Curators.
3. Decides on the organization of the collection.
4. Recommends acquisitions for the collection.
5. Recommends objects to be conserved and conservation priorities.
6. Supervises and administers the exhibitions of the collection.
7. Initiates the scholarly cataloging of objects in the collection.
8. Negotiates loans for objects.
9. Assists in formulation of policy regarding the collection.
10. Interprets the collection to assist scholars with research. Teaches and lectures in a specific subject area.
11. Assists in writing of grant proposals.
12. Supervises staff of exempt and non-exempt employees.
13. Promotes knowledge of the collection through writing, teaching and exhibitions.
14. May perform other duties as assigned.