Curatorial Assistant, Painting and Sculpture

MoMA; Cullman (AL); On-site; USD 64,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unionized position

Job summary

MoMA in New York seeks a Curatorial Assistant in Painting and Sculpture to support senior curators with research for exhibitions, loans, and publications. The Museum houses its world-renowned collection and hosts rigorous scholarly activity in a collaborative setting.

The role requires a Master’s or PhD in art history with Latin American art expertise, 1–2 years’ museum experience, and professional Spanish.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in art history with expertise in modern and contemporary art, preferred focus on late 20th-century Latinx/Latin American art.
• One to two years’ museum experience or loan exhibitions support.
• Superior research, writing, and editing skills are essential.
• Professional level Spanish proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Assist senior curators with research, planning, organization, and realization of exhibitions.
• Write and edit museum publications, wall texts, and exhibition materials.
• Research and catalog the collection and archives related to exhibitions; respond to inquiries.
• Provide exhibition support, including bibliographic research, loan correspondence, and publication research.
• Maintain collection and loan records; assist with custodial, registration, and conservation prep in galleries and storage.
• Liaise with external contacts and other departments within the Museum.
• Support potential acquisitions through research and communications with dealers, galleries, and artists.

Skills

Spanish language proficiency

Strong writing skills

Education

Master’s or PhD in art history

Specialized knowledge: 20th century & contemporary Latinx/Latin American art

Tools

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

The Museum System (TMS)

Job description

Curatorial Assistant, Painting and Sculpture

Job Category: Curatorial

Requisition Number: CURAT002417

• Posted : August 24, 2026
• Full-Time
• Hybrid

Locations

Showing 1 location

New York, NY 10019, USA

Description

The Museum:

Founded in 1929 as an educational institution, The Museum of Modern Art is dedicated to being the foremost museum of modern and contemporary art in the world. Through the leadership of its trustees and staff, the Museum manifests this commitment by establishing, preserving, and documenting a collection of the highest order that reflects the vitality, complexity, and unfolding patterns of modern and contemporary art; by presenting exhibitions and educational programs of unparalleled significance; by sustaining a library, archives, and conservation laboratory that are recognized as international centers of research; and by supporting scholarship and publications of preeminent intellectual merit.

Central to the Museum’s mission is the encouragement of an ever-deepening understanding and enjoyment of modern and contemporary art by the diverse local, national, and international audiences that it serves.

The Opportunity:

The Museum of Modern Art is currently accepting applications for a Curatorial Assistant in the Department of Painting and Sculpture. The Museum of Modern Art is the repository of the world’s largest and most inclusive collection of modern painting and sculpture, comprising some 4,000 works dating from the late nineteenth century to the present day. The Painting and Sculpture Department produces a rigorous and innovative program of acquisitions, exhibitions and scholarship.

The Curatorial Assistant supports senior curators in all areas of responsibilities, including administrative work in the context of curatorial functions such as research for exhibitions and publications, loans, acquisitions, collections records, bibliographic and biographical records and files, and general curatorial inquiries.

Responsibilities

• Assists senior curators with all aspects of research, planning, organization, and realization of upcoming exhibitions.
• 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

• Master’s degree or PhD in art history with expertise in modern and contemporary art, specialized knowledge of 20th century and contemporary Latinx and Latin American art, preferred, that will support the development of an upcoming exhibition centered on a late 20th-Century artist.
• One to two years’ experience working in a museum or supporting loan exhibitions and accompanying publications.
• Superior research, writing, and editing skills are essential.
• Professional level proficiency in Spanish.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to successfully work as part of a team.
• Working knowledge of Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite include MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with The Museum System (TMS) is helpful.
• On-site presence is required five days a week during the 90-day initial employment period. Thereafter the schedule is four days per week onsite, subject to change at management’s discretion, with the understanding that some weeks on-site presence five days a week will be required.

Reports to: The Estrellita Brodsky Curator of Latin American Art Department of Painting and Sculpture

Salary: The salary for this position is $74,858 (gross) per annum

Application deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a deadline of September 18, 2026, after which the job posting will be closed.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement: Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at the Museum, where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital and civil partnership/union status, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, unemployment status, familial status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, or any other protected category as established by applicable law, including the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”).

This is a unionized position at MoMA with covered employees represented by Local 2110, UAW, AFL-CIO.

August 2026

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.