Research Associate, Modern & Contemporary Art

MISSION

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers. We recognize that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. We are a place of gathering; we foster the exchange of ideas and inspire an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity. 

We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package: 

• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays (up to 14 days)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits
• Competitive retirement plan 
• Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program
• Great employee discounts
• Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions

Salary Grade 6  

 

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT(S)

Spanning 1900 to the present, Modern and Contemporary Art maintains a collection that ranges from the beginnings of the historical avant-gardes to the art of our own time. The collection includes over 3,000 works, including painting, sculpture, installations, time-based media, photography, and works on paper. Wide ranging in geography and scope, with particular strengths in European 20th century avant-gardes, International Surrealism, mid-century and postwar painting and sculpture, as well as the histories and contemporary legacies of Minimal, Post-Minimal, and Conceptual Art, the department maintains a regularly-rotated, and expansive collection presentation over more than 50,000 square feet of dedicated gallery space, encompassing two floors of the Art Institute’s Renzo Piano-designed Modern Wing. The department additionally presents several large-scale and focused exhibitions and programs annually in temporary exhibition galleries, the Donna and Howard Stone Film and Video Gallery, and on the Bluhm Family Terrace, actively collaborating with artists and scholars to

commission and present many live events each year, from performances and screenings to artist’s talks and lectures.

 

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under the direction of the Gary C. and Frances Comer Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, and working alongside staff from across the museum, the research associate assists with research, writing, and content production for the departmental collection, exhibitions, gallery rotations, and reinstallations; conducts art historical and art market research; investigates provenance, including ownership, publication, and exhibition histories for objects; maintains and updates object database records; supports the departmental goals in publishing research about the collection online; and responds to research-related inquiries from scholars, peers, and the public.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Research: Provides curatorial research support for the departmental collection, exhibitions, loans, acquisitions, and gifts; investigates provenance, including ownership, publication, and exhibition histories for objects; produces acquisition justifications, interpretive content, and exhibition-related materials; conducts art historical and art market research about and related to objects in the permanent collection, loans, and potential acquisitions; produces and ensures accuracy of information presented in the galleries, online, and in the departmental object files and records; and fields requests and inquiries from scholars, peers, and the public.*

Curatorial support: Updates museum database with research findings; as needed, assists with metadata tagging in museum database; participates in the departmental efforts to publish all objects online with comprehensive information. Supports the research for and the preparation of materials for advisory committee meetings. May support various aspects of developing and implementing exhibitions, rotations, reinstallations, and projects as assigned.*

Audience outreach: As needed, gives gallery tours and lectures on the departmental collection and exhibitions; and participates in scholarly symposia and conferences related to collection and exhibition research.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer; must be able to remain in a stationary positio