Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art

This content is exclusive for CfC members.

Please or register to see all our content.

(Open Rank: Assistant/Associate/Curator)

The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art seeks an innovative curator of Modern & Contemporary Art. Reporting to the Curator of European & Decorative Arts, the curator will oversee the museum’s growing collection of modern and contemporary works across media, generate groundbreaking presentations of modern and contemporary art in the form of temporary exhibitions and permanent collection displays, and help establish the curatorial approach to the museum’s $150 million capital project to build a new museum building in Downtown Memphis. The curator will bring creativity and vision to present operations at the museum’s Overton Park location and to the development of the new building. Key to this position is working with the curatorial team to develop a dynamic program of exhibitions and publications that deepens and creates community embeddedness and raises the profile of the museum on a local, national, and international level. Emphasis is placed on cultivating close relationships with artists, local non-profits, and with grassroots organizations, supporting the development of their work as it aligns with the museum’s mission. In close collaboration with the curatorial team, the curator will make recommendations for accessions and deaccessions, recommendations for conservation, and help develop a strategic plan for collection development. The curator will contribute expertise to the MBMA’s collection and program, working closing with the Exhibitions, Education, and Marketing Departments. Working collaboratively with the Development and Marketing Departments, the curator will cultivate and strengthen relationships with donor groups, individuals, and community partners. The successful candidate will be an exemplary collaborator, possess deep knowledge in one or more areas related to the collection, and have a proven record of work underpinned by a sincere interest in creating a more equitable museum.

The curator of Modern & Contemporary Art joins the museum’s curatorial staff at a pivotal moment for the museum. The Pritzker Prize-winning firm Herzog & de Meuron (Basel/New York), is designing, with Memphis-based architect of record archimania, a $150 million new facility overlooking the Mississippi River in the heart of Downtown Memphis. The new museum building will be at the center of a newly animated and accessible Memphis riverfront, with plans to connect six miles of the riverfront with parks, walking paths, and civic and recreational structures, as conceived by the Chicago-based firm Studio Gang, as well as numerous other developments. The curator of Modern & Contemporary Art will spearhead the curatorial vision for the museum’s modern and contemporary holdings in the new Downtown location and will work collaboratively with the museum’s curatorial team on the curatorial concept for the new building as a whole.

Founded in 1916 and located in historic Overton Park, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is the oldest and largest art museum in Tennessee and a cultural anchor for the tri-State area that includes Arksansas and Mississippi. The museum holds over 10,000 works spanning 5,000 years of global human history with strengths in European, American, African diaspora, and global contemporary art, and with a particular strength in photography. The Brooks Museum enriches the lives of our diverse community through the museum’s expanding collection, varied exhibitions, and dynamic programs that reflect the art of world cultures from antiquity to the present.

Responsibilities:

Work with the Executive Director and the Curator of European & Decorative Arts and the Curatorial team to shape curatorial direction and museum policy
Responsibility for the care, display, and interpretation of the museum’s permanent collection of Modern and Contemporary art
Generate and facilitate exhibitions, permanent collection displays, and commissions of Modern and Contemporary art
Generate original research
Build and maintain relationships with curators, artists, community stakeholders, collectors, donors, and art world professionals
Contribute to the curatorial vision and planning for the museum’s new facility Downtown
Participate in activities pertaining to Curatorial committees, advisory groups and donor groups
Lead and participate in public programs and other events as needed
Mentor the Joyce Blackmon Curatorial Fellow in African American Art and Art of the African Diaspora, and any other junior staff that join the curatorial department
Train and mentor interns, volunteers, and docents
Ensure that diversity, equity, access, and inclusion are primary considerations across all work

Requirements:

Open rank, salary commensurate with experience
MA in Art History or related field
Minimum 5 years art museum experience or other arts non-profit in relevant capacity
Demonstrable knowledge of and involvement in international contemporary art, with an established network of contacts in the field
Experience in generating and staging art exhibitions, displays and related events
Record of publications in the field
Demonstrable interest in developing authentic community relationships
Record of work showing interest in creating a more equitable museum and/or a demonstrable interest in social justice and/or demonstrable knowledge of critical theories including but not limited to race, class, ability, gender, and sexuality
Excellent planning, scheduling, and administrative skills, with the ability to prioritize and meet multiple deadlines
Excellent written and spoken communication, with the ability to adapt to multiple types of audience
The ability to engage adeptly with a variety of stakeholders including but not limited to staff, visitors, trustees, artists, community partners, donors, funders, and academic institutions
The ability to work collaboratively across departments since the museum prioritizes an amicable working environment
Experience supervising or managing staff is a plus, but willingness to learn best practices in collaboration, mentorship, and staff development is essential
Ability and willingness to attend out-of-hours functions as necessary
Some travel required

Qualified candidates are invited to apply by emailing a letter and a cv to rosamund.garrett@brooksmuseum.org with “Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art” as the subject line.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or marital or veteran status. We actively encourage minority candidates to apply for open positions.