At an exciting moment for the program in Contemporary Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, seeks a creative, dynamic, and well-connected professional to become the first Hansjörg Wyss Curator of Modern Art. Reporting to the Beal Family Chair of the Department of Contemporary Art (DCA), the Wyss Curator will be in dialogue with a growing department focused on the art of the mid-twentieth century to the present in a global context, including painting, sculpture, time-based media, and performance. The role focuses on the decades of the mid-twentieth century, particularly the 1950s through the 1970s, and also serves an important additional capacity in being the department’s ambassador to and collaborator with colleagues in Arts of the Americas, Arts of Europe, and other adjacent curatorial departments. Together with other curators in DCA, the Wyss Curator will have the opportunity to help steer and contribute to a program of exhibitions, commissions, installations, and displays of the collection that reshapes the institution’s commitment to the art of our time.

The Department of Contemporary Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, presents, collects and fosters access to and understanding of contemporary art. The Department advocates for the importance of contemporary voices in the context of a large, encyclopedic museum, continually exploring opportunities to create opportunities to hear the voice of artists. With an eye on local, national and international artists and communities, the Department creates a varied program for a range of audiences, working closely with colleagues from across the institution. The quickly evolving collection increasingly represents contemporary art in all of its iterations, transcending traditional boundaries and hierarchies of media, movements and chronology. 

Essential Functions:

• Locate, research, recommend, and present objects for acquisition within Departmental Collections Strategy; refine collection through proposal of regular and responsible de-accessioning; stay abreast of commercial market, private collecting, local collectors and other important trends in the modern and contemporary art market.
• Propose exhibition, commission, and collection display ideas of varying scales and scope and execute approved projects, including presentation in the galleries, preparation of impactful publications, gallery texts, and other interpretive materials; work with Communications staff in marketing and public relations on endeavors that support exhibition projects or initiatives.
• Participate in departmental responsibility to document and research the collections; in consultation with fellow DCA staff and Conservation, evaluate and arrange for loans of objects to and from the collection. Recommend objects for thoughtful and 
• With staff of Development Department, form and foster relationships with important collectors and donors—seek and act upon opportunities to bring such individuals into contact and close connection with the Museum; work closely with Development Department in grant application process, fundraising, publicity, research activities as necessary.
• Travel and serve as an art courier, attend conferences, seminars; visit other Museums, maintain professional affiliations in appropriate organizations.
• Together with Chair and other colleagues, assist in managing and mentoring junior department staff, such as curatorial assistants and interns.

Qualifications and Experience:

• An MA, MPhil, or PhD, or other advanced degree in Art History or a related discipline with a focus on the mid-twentieth century in particular.
• 5 to 7 years of experience in a museum or comparable institution with established contacts with national and international artists, collectors, dealers, and curators, and other museum professionals.
• Demonstrated record of curating engaging, thoughtful, and meaningful displays, exhibitions, and programs for art of the twentieth century that have also reimagined the discipline in more inclusive, diverse, and culturally resonant ways.
• Clear commitment to IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, access), through projects, collaborations, and hiring, and management that fosters a culturally inclusive and welcoming environment.
• Experience in working effectively with colleagues internal (registration, conservation, education/learning/community engagement, publishing, and development) and external to deliver projects that are well-timed, in budget, and fully collaborative.
• Eagerness to engage in mentorship, writing, and other forms of cultivation for future generations of museum professionals.
• Perform other associated duties as responsibilities necessitate.
• Proficiency in another language a plus.

Salary Range

Full-time Salary, 35 hours per week

Starting Salary: $88,026

This position is affiliated with the UAW union

The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.