Curatorial Assistant, Drawing and Prints

Asian American Arts Alliance; Northern, New York (KY, NY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

The Museum of Modern Art in New York seeks a Curatorial Assistant for the Department of Drawings and Prints to support research for exhibitions and publications, and to handle acquisitions, records, loans, and related inquiries.

Ideal candidates hold a master’s in art history, with strong research and writing skills, and the ability to work across periods and geographies. Familiarity with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and TMS is preferred.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in art history required.
• Minimum two years in a curatorial department with exhibition/catalog experience.
• Interest in modern and contemporary works on paper is a plus.
• Ability to adapt research across periods and geographies.
• Proficiency in a second language preferred.
• Strong writing and organizational skills required.

Responsibilities

• Assist senior curators with research, planning, and exhibition realization.
• Contribute to publications, wall texts, and object labels.
• Catalog the collection and archives related to exhibitions.
• Support loans, bibliography, and production activities.
• Coordinate with other departments and external contacts.
• Conduct gallery inspections and respond to collection inquiries.
• Provide general curatorial support as needed.

Skills

Research

Writing

Organization

Attention to detail

Education

Master’s degree in art history

Tools

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

The Museum System (TMS)

Job description

Curatorial Assistant, Drawing and Prints

MoMA

New York, NY 10019

Deadline

Rolling

Posted

Feb 23, 2026

The Museum of Modern Art is currently accepting applications for a Curatorial Assistant who will support the curatorial team in the Department of Drawings and Prints in all areas of their responsibilities, including research for exhibitions and publications, and administrative tasks related to acquisitions, exhibitions, collections records, bibliographic and biographical files, loans, and general curatorial inquiries.

Ideal candidates will hold a minimum of a master’s degree in art history. An academic and/or curatorial interest in early- to mid-20th-century American modernism, including Black artistic practices and their transatlantic, socially engaged, and works-on-paper dimensions, is a plus, as it will support the development of an upcoming monographic exhibition centered on process and material experimentation; the position also requires the flexibility to shift across periods, geographies, and subjects as future projects demand.

The salary for this position is $71,979 per annum.

• Assists senior curators with all aspects of research, planning, organization, and realization of upcoming exhibitions and gallery rotations.
• Writes, edits, and assists in the production of Museum publications and exhibition-related materials, including wall texts and extended object labels.
• Researches and catalogs the Museum collection and archives as they relate to the exhibition project. Answers related inquiries.
• Performs exhibition support functions, including bibliographic and checklist research, loan correspondence, publication research and production, website development, and public program planning.
• Assists in the maintenance of the collection and loans, and expedites arrangements for custodial, registration, conservation, and preparation work as required in the gallery, study and storage areas.
• Functions as a liaison with outside persons and organizations, and with other departments within the Museum.
• May assist in research and preparation for potential acquisitions for the collection, including biographical and bibliographical research, maintaining files, and communicating with dealers, galleries, collectors, and artists, as necessary.
• Keeps informed of current activity in the area of departmental interest through gallery and museum visits, publications, etc. and makes recommendations to senior staff.
• Conducts daily collection gallery inspections and daily inspection of works on view in temporary exhibitions and assists with follow-up arrangements in the event of damage, deterioration, etc.
• Answers inquiries and conducts gallery tours as necessary for visitors, etc.
• Performs any other duties reasonably related to the functions described above.

Requirements

• Minimum of a master’s degree in art history required.
• Minimum of two years experience in a curatorial department with experience supporting exhibition and exhibition catalog production.
• Academic and/or curatorial interest in modern and contemporary works on paper is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt research and curatorial work across different periods, geographies, and subject areas.
• Proficiency in a second language, in addition to English, is preferred.
• Superior research and writing skills are essential.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail and working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and other standard office procedures and skills. Familiarity with The Museum System (TMS) is helpful.