Hakuta Family Nam June Paik Curatorial Fellow

Institution: Harvard Art Museums / Harvard University
Deadline: Rolling review (applications reviewed from January 26, 2026 until filled)
Location: Cambridge & Somerville, MA, USA

The Harvard Art Museums are offering a two-year Curatorial Fellowship focused on the work and legacy of Nam June Paik, one of the most influential figures in the history of time-based media and experimental art. This fellowship is designed for early-career professionals pursuing museum careers in art history and related fields.

Reporting to the Houghton Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Fellow will work closely with the Time-Based Media Working Group, collaborating across curatorial, conservation, collections management, registration, and media technology departments. The fellowship emphasizes cross-departmental research and the development of institutional strategies for the stewardship, conservation, installation, and interpretation of time-based media works.

A core focus of the role is original research on the Harvard Art Museums’ holdings of works by Nam June Paik, as well as artists within his network and legacy. The Fellow’s research will contribute to long-term plans for displaying Paik’s work in galleries or alternative exhibition contexts, integrating it into teaching, and developing public and academic programming.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct original, object-based research on works by Nam June Paik and related artists
• Collaborate across departments to develop best practices for stewardship of time-based media
• Contribute to interpretive materials for permanent collection installations, exhibitions, and publications
• Support a wide range of curatorial activities, including loans, acquisitions, cataloguing, provenance research, and donor-related tasks
• Participate in interdisciplinary teaching and public programmes aligned with the museums’ academic mission
• Supervise students and temporary staff when required

Employment Details

• Fellowship term: September 8, 2026 – August 31, 2028
• Compensation: USD 60,000 annualized
• Hours: 35 hours per week
• On-site position (Cambridge, MA; periodic work in Somerville, MA)
• Salary Grade: 090

Eligibility & Qualifications

• MA in Art History or a related field (required)
• PhD preferred
• Strong commitment to object-based research
• Museum or related professional experience preferred
• Reading knowledge of Korean or Japanese considered especially useful
• Strong organizational, communication, and collaborative skills