Assistant Curator of Modern Art

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The Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

The Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, part of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, seeks an Assistant Curator of Modern Art to help shape the Museum’s exhibition and collection program with a focus on pre-1950s art through a global postcolonial lens. In September 2019 the Kemper Art Museum expanded with new and renovated galleries that double the space allotted for display of the Museum’s renowned collection. The expansion also brought improved amenities and a higher campus profile as well as increased visibility and enhanced accessibility for the visiting public. This position offers unique opportunities to develop stimulating exhibitions and publications as well as to shape the direction of the Museum’s permanent collection with an emphasis on historically underrepresented artists.

The Assistant Curator at the Kemper Art Museum should have in-depth expertise in the field of pre-1950 modern art, proven experience with curatorial practices, and a demonstrated interest in advancing overlooked areas in art historical scholarship, such as Black studies and postcolonialism, and the educational and research missions of university museums. This candidate will also possess the ability to collaborate on interdisciplinary exhibitions and related projects with faculty across campus, especially in the Sam Fox School and the University’s Department of Art History & Archaeology in Arts & Sciences. The Assistant Curator researches and proposes acquisitions; develops relations with collectors, donors, and the public; and helps prioritize and achieve short- and long-range institutional goals. This position represents the Museum, the School, and the University locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Assistant Curator is a senior staff position reporting to the Curator.

Job Description

This position may be required to respond to developing opportunities, including covering events after hours and/or on weekends.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Advance art historical research on pre-1950s modern art to develop and execute permanent collection installations and loan exhibitions.
Publish scholarship in areas of expertise in Kemper Art Museum publications, scholarly journals, and other external publications.
Further disseminate scholarship through teaching, lectures, and participation in symposia.
Lead initiatives to support the expansion and diversification of the Museum’s collection.
Assist the Director and Chief Curator with the development of broad Museum support, including fundraising, donor relations, and public relations.
Develop relations and programming with academic units across the University, such as the Center for the Humanities, the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Equity, and the Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies.
Participate in interdisciplinary initiatives of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts to fulfill the Kemper Art Museum’s unique role among national university museums as part of a school of art, architecture, and design.
Maintain and further develop relations with peer institutions, scholars, and artists.
Oversee exhibition and related project budgets; research and write grants related to exhibitions.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

Expertise in pre-1950s art strongly preferred.
PhD in Art History or related field.
Teaching experience welcome but not required.
Progressively responsible curatorial experience and demonstrated excellence in such areas as acquisitions, exhibitions, and published scholarship.
Knowledge of critical histories and theories of race, class, and gender in relation to the production, reception, and interpretation of art.
Commitment to work within a university setting and with diverse audiences and communities.
Ability to collaborate with university faculty, Museum staff, professional colleagues, and Museum supporters.
Proficiency in one or more foreign languages appropriate to the field of scholarship with fluency strongly preferred.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.