Research Associate, Krasner & Pollock Exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Job Title: Research Associate, Krasner & Pollock Exhibition
Job Status: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $68,000 $70,000
The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.
Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as the audiences we engage. Our staff members are art lovers who are passionate about working toward a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum in the world.
At The Met, every staff member – from security officers to researchers to scientists and beyond – lives by our core values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity.
Respect: Engage one another with collegiality, empathy, and kindness, always.
Inclusivity: Ensure that all are and feel welcome and valued.
Collaboration: Reach across boundaries to exchange ideas and work together toward our shared mission.
Excellence: Lead the cultural world in quality and expertise—and inspire curiosity and creativity.
Integrity: Hold ourselves to the highest moral standards, admit when we fall short, and then evolve.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
The Modern and Contemporary Art department at The Met is devoted to the study, collection and exhibition of art from 1890 to the present. An era marked by seismic cultural, social and political shifts across the globe, artistic responses to these changes have shaped multiple modernities and diverse contemporary practices. The department is committed to foregrounding the interconnected and richly variegated narratives and experiences that inform the art of this period from around the world.
Historically focused on the art of Western Europe and North America, since 2012 Modern and Contemporary Art has greatly expanded and diversified its collections, especially through works by women and artists of color, with particular emphasis on acquisitions from Latin America, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and African diasporas. Today, its holdings span a range of media, including paintings, sculpture, works on paper, design, decorative arts, and time-based media. The department presents rotating selections from its dynamic collections in its galleries and special projects throughout the museum.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
As Research Associate, you will be primarily responsible for conducting research and providing administrative support for the upcoming exhibition devoted to Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock, opening at The Met in September 2026.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
- Conduct in-depth library and archival research on Krasner and Pollock to support the exhibition checklist; research provenance and exhibition histories of works on checklist; regularly update and maintain research database for the exhibition and accompanying catalogue;
- Organize meetings with other Met departments, including Design, Education, Editorial, Registrar, External Affairs, and Development, and coordinating agendas and follow-up/next steps;
- Maintain object checklist and files and assist with lender correspondence, processing of exhibition agreements and other forms;
- Coordinate with registrars/departmental collections team on database updates regarding loans.
- Work with curators and Exhibitions department to assist in compiling information needed for Immunity from Seizure and Indemnification applications, as needed;
- Work with curators and Publications and Editorial Department to assist with all aspects of the exhibition catalogue production, including author identification, design process, copy editing, securing images and rights, preparing captions and bibliographies, and corresponding with external authors.
- Research images and archival photographs and assist in securing reproduction rights and correct credits/captioning;
- Work with curators, project managers, and larger team on all matters related to exhibition design and installation;
- Assist with the composition of interpretive material, including gallery labels, images/captions, digital content, or other assets, and securing rights;
- Assist with grant applications and other fundraising opportunities, as needed;
- Assist with the build-out of the exhibition web page and other promotional materials/media, as needed;
- Assist in organization and implementation of any programs, workshops, lectures, and/or symposia related to the exhibition;
- Maintain image library; prepare PPT materials for lectures in support of projects; give walkthroughs and gallery talks as needed;
- Assist with gallery installation/deinstallation and working with couriers;
- Other duties as assigned.
Education & Experience:
- Masters or higher in Art History.
- Previous art-historical research experience in a museum setting, with a broad knowledge of mid-20th century American Art preferred.
- Excellent communication, organizational and writing skills. Proven ability to be an efficient, detail-oriented multitasker who can both work independently to meet deadlines and work collaboratively in teams.
- Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Microsoft Teams, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Abobe Photoshop, and fluency with The Museum System (TMS), and bibliographic software (e.g., Zotero) strongly preferred.
COMPENSATION RANGE:
- Pay Range: $68,000.00 – $70,000.00 / Annually
- The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.
Location Requirements
At time of employment, employees are expected to be located within commuting distance of the Museum. “Commuting distance” means that they are located in one of following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania (the “Tri-state and PA” areas), and be able to commute to and from the Museum in a single day.
Benefits Offerings
The Museum provides competitive compensation, and generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Note: Benefits Offering may differ based on Employee Status.
- Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
- 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
- Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Account (pre-tax income for eligible health care expenses)
- Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses)
- Free financial-planning services
- Financial assistance for relevant coursework, seminars, and training programs
- 25% discount for staff in Museum shops
- A subsidized staff cafeteria
- Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.
The Met is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, The Met will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed in this process, please contact benefits@metmuseum.org.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.