Collection Specialist, Scott Burton Catalogue Raisonné Project

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 seeks a Collection Specialist in the Department of Painting and Sculpture.  MoMA 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. Under the leadership of the Chief Curator, the Department produces a rigorous and innovative program of acquisitions, exhibitions and scholarship.

The Collection Specialist role is a part-time, fixed-term position to join a team dedicated to compiling the comprehensive catalogue raisonné of the art of Scott Burton.  This Collection Specialist will work under the guidance of the Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis Chief Curator of Painting and Sculpture. It is the goal of this catalogue raisonné project to physically examine every known work of the artist. This position is three days a week, and is a grant-funded position expected to last approximately two years.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as point person for Scott Burton catalogue raisonné project, liaising with internal departments and as well as external institutions as needed and developing timeline for project.
• In collaboration with the Burton Committee, develops a methodological framework for the catalogue raisonné project that ensures its execution at the highest caliber and establishes confidence through transparency with outside scholars, curators, collectors.
• Collaborates on collection management, temporary exhibitions, and public programs related to the artist and MoMA’s holdings of his work.
• Researches the Museum’s Burton collection and the artist’s archives, supporting departmental projects and responding to related inquiries.
• Plans and executes collection installations and exhibitions that center Burton’s work and invites new scholarship, individually or with curatorial peers.
• Assists Chief Curator with research, planning, and organization of any related curatorial projects.
• Authors, edits, and assists in producing the catalogue raisonné and any other adjacent exhibition-related materials, including wall texts and object labels.
• Invites and organizes outside authors to contribute catalogue entries for the Scott Burton catalogue raisonné.
• Participates in departmental teams focused on core functions (e.g., website, storage, acquisitions research, imaging, provenance) primarily as it relates to the Museum’s Burton collection.
• Corresponds with private owners, galleries, auction houses and public collections in New York City and throughout the U.S. to track artworks and arrange viewing appointments.
• Examines/documents artworks following specific guidelines and using research tools; takes digital pictures for research purposes.
• Serves as primary liaison between P&S and the General Counsel’s office for all Burton inquiries.
• Works closely with the MoMA conservation team as needed.
• Submits gathered information in a precise and comprehensive way to the Burton Committee, to ensure the catalogue raisonné is under constant peer review.
• Coordinates and attends quarterly Scott Burton Advisory Committee meetings and presents on project updates.
• Maintains strict confidentiality in all sensitive matters.
• Work collaboratively with other curatorial staff and Archives staff on the Scott Burton project and helps manage and mentors junior staff including Department Assistants, Curatorial Assistants, Fellows, and Interns.
• Travels domestically and internationally for exhibition, collection, and acquisition research.