Artist Liaison
Role details
Organisation: Esther Schipper
Location: Berlin, Germany
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Working days: Monday to Friday, with occasional evening availability for travel, events and openings
Salary: €5,250 gross per month during probation; €5,600 gross per month thereafter
Desired start: Second half of 2026
Department: Artist Liaison
Reports to: Team Lead Artist Liaison
Application deadline: Not specified
Artist Liaison at Esther Schipper
Esther Schipper is seeking an experienced, culturally engaged and highly organised Artist Liaison to join its team in Berlin.
Serving as the primary point of contact between the gallery and its represented artists and studios, the Artist Liaison manages responsibilities ranging from strategic career development and institutional network-building to inventory management, exhibition production and contract negotiation.
The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in a comparable position at an international gallery or arts institution, extensive knowledge of contemporary art and global art history, and the ability to manage complex, long-term artist relationships with discretion and authority.
Position summary
The Artist Liaison is a senior role within the gallery’s Artist Liaison team, which currently comprises five Artist Liaisons who each work with approximately ten artists and estates.
The position carries significant independent responsibility and requires professional maturity, cultural sensitivity and strategic thinking. The successful candidate will build and maintain trusted relationships with assigned artists and their studios, develop and implement artist career strategies, coordinate internal and external exhibitions, oversee inventory and consignment processes, and cultivate institutional networks that support artists’ long-term development.
Responsibilities
Project and exhibition management
- Independently manage internal and external exhibitions and projects from concept to completion, working closely with artists, studios and the back-office team.
- Develop exhibition concepts in collaboration with artists and gallery management.
- Maintain project checklists, artist matrices and deadlines throughout all project phases.
- Negotiate project budgets with artists and take responsibility for budget control, accounting and profit-and-loss analysis.
- Prepare and send end-of-show letters to artists.
Inventory and consignment management
- Procure and oversee consignment agreements in collaboration with the Registrars and Cataloguer.
- Define editions, pricing and artwork descriptions, while maintaining accurate inventory records and artwork documentation.
- Monitor the production of new works, negotiate production budgets and oversee budget control.
- Prepare and manage sales materials with the back-office and sales teams.
- Ensure the timely and complete delivery of sold works, including installation manuals and certificates.
- Coordinate institutional loan agreements with the Registrar team.
- Maintain digital and physical filing systems, including artwork and project files and the gallery archive.
Artist relations and career development
- Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned artists and their studios.
- Build and sustain strong, trust-based relationships with artists, demonstrating cultural sensitivity, empathy and an understanding of cross-cultural communication.
- Negotiate the terms and conditions of cooperation with artists on behalf of the gallery.
- Develop and implement career and sales strategies in collaboration with gallery management and the sales team.
- Cultivate and expand the gallery’s institutional network to advance artists’ careers, including attending international exhibition openings and institutional events.
Artist accounts
- Support the accurate accounting and timely payment of artist shares in collaboration with the Artist Account Manager.
- Register, monitor and control production costs and other gallery investments in Artlogic.
- Coordinate and distribute annual artist account overviews.
Requirements
- A minimum of four to six years of professional experience in a comparable role, ideally at an international contemporary art gallery or major art institution.
- A demonstrable record of managing complex artist relationships and leading exhibition projects with a high degree of autonomy.
- In-depth knowledge of contemporary art, global art history and the international art market.
- Strong networking skills and an established presence within the international contemporary art world.
- A degree in Art History, Cultural Studies, Postcolonial Studies or a related field; equivalent professional experience will also be considered.
- Cultural sensitivity and a sophisticated understanding of cross-cultural communication, with experience working with artists from diverse backgrounds.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in German is a strong advantage.
- Exceptional organisational and project-management skills, with the ability to prioritise multiple simultaneous projects.
- Strong financial literacy and experience with budget negotiation and profit-and-loss reporting.
- Knowledge of artwork production processes and experience developing and producing complex projects and exhibitions.
- Proficiency in Artlogic or a comparable CRM or inventory-management system.
- Confidence using Mac, Microsoft Office and project-management tools such as Asana.
- An emotionally intelligent, diplomatic and discreet approach.
- A collaborative working style and commitment to a positive, professional work culture.
- Willingness to travel internationally and work outside standard hours when required.
About Esther Schipper
Esther Schipper is a contemporary art gallery representing more than 60 artists and estates, with locations in Berlin, Paris and Seoul. Its international team comprises more than 60 employees, with the gallery’s core operations based in Berlin.
Over its nearly 40-year history, the gallery has developed a programme centred on innovation, institutional collaboration and international engagement. It produces approximately 12 to 14 exhibitions annually at its Berlin space, alongside exhibitions in Paris and Seoul, participates in major international art fairs and supports numerous institutional exhibitions worldwide.
Application
Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV and any relevant references through the gallery’s careers page. Walk-in applications and telephone enquiries will not be considered.