MoMA – Provenance Specialist | Painting and Sculpture

The Museum of Modern Art seeks an art historian or related professional, with proven expertise in provenance research procedures, guidelines, and resources, particularly for works of art created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The position requires experience with the physical examination of works of art and thorough investigation of museum archives, auction and exhibition catalogues, monographic studies, and catalogues of collections, dealer records, photographic archives, and publication of wartime activities of dealers and collectors, some of which is not publicly available, both in the U.S. and other countries. The position reports to the Chief Curator in the Department of Painting and Sculpture.

Responsibilities:

  • Oversees research, procedures, documentation and funding in conjunction with curatorial departments, General Counsel, and the Registrar department for provenance research and review for all curatorial departments, including searching through Museum records and when appropriate, contacting established archives, databases, art dealers, auction houses, donors, scholars and researchers, with regard to works in the Collection; outgoing loans (foreign); acquisitions (gifts, bequests, purchases); and, deaccessions.
  • Manages MoMA’s Provenance Research Project including responding to queries on behalf of the project (http://www.moma.org/collection/provenance/).
  • Provides research for catalog information, provenance listings, and images for selected works from the Collection meeting AAM guidelines, from Departments of Painting and Sculpture and Drawings and Prints.
  • Reviews documentation for loan exhibitions: foreign incoming loans to exhibitions (for immunity from seizure applications) and domestic incoming loans.
  • Develops provenance protocols, procedures and best practices for the Museum in collaboration with relevant colleagues. Trains employees in relevant departments on provenance research and standards and educates them on routine procedures.
  • Participates in provenance-related conferences and convenings to stay informed about developments in the field, build a network of colleagues, participate in policy discussions, and to represent MoMA as a leading participant in the museum sector.
  • Participates in research, evaluation, and report writing related to provenance claims and inquiries.
  • Performs any other duties reasonably related to the functions described above.

Requirements:

  • Master’s degree in art history or related field, Ph.D. preferred, and several years of experience with provenance research and procedures.
  • Proven expertise in provenance research procedures, guidelines, and resources, particularly for works of art created in the late 19th- and early 20th-
  • Experience with the physical examination of works of art and thorough investigation of museum archives, auction and exhibition catalogs, monographic studies, and catalogs of collections, dealer records, photographic archives, and publication of wartime activities of dealers and collectors, some of which is not publicly available, both in the U.S. and other countries.
  • Ability to conduct research in archives in relevant countries around the world.
  • Understanding of war-time art market
  • Familiarity with all current resources including on-line resources
  • Fluency in English, French, and German

APPLY HERE

Note: Please include a cover letter. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

The Museum of Modern Art is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.