Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art - Full Time

Philbrook Museum of Art IncTulsa, OK
Onsite

About The Position

Philbrook Museum of Art seeks applicants for a full-time (Open-Rank) Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art. This is a key position supporting the mission of Philbrook: to build a more creative and connected community through art and gardens. This individual will be responsible for the acquisition, preservation, interpretation and exhibition of Philbrook’s growing modern and contemporary art collections, including research and project development. They will organize original exhibitions and oversee traveling exhibitions, as well as spearhead related programming and supervise curatorial interns and volunteers.

Requirements

  • Master’s degree in art history or related field (a bachelor’s degree and equivalent training may be substituted); PhD preferred.
  • Minimum of two years of curatorial experience for assistant-level position.
  • Expertise in modern / contemporary art; experience working with gardens, outdoor / public art, or performance-based practices an advantage.
  • Demonstrated skill in exhibition interpretation, development, and design.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate with both academic and public audiences, art collectors, dealers & potential donors, visitors and professional organizations.
  • Thorough knowledge of museum practices, including collections documentation, preservation, and interpretation.
  • Highly proficient in basic software applications such as Microsoft Office suite, Adobe suite, project management tools, and collection databases such as TMS (The Museum System).
  • Excellent project management, collaboration, organizational skills.
  • Critical thinker who is comfortable with giving and receiving feedback, and who proactively works to identify problems and enact solutions.
  • Ability to meet and manage deadlines.

Nice To Haves

  • experience working with gardens, outdoor / public art, or performance-based practices an advantage.

Responsibilities

  • Develop ambitious special exhibitions as well as seek traveling exhibitions appropriate to the institution’s budget, audience, and expectations of quality.
  • Collaboratively plan presentations in collection galleries, including the creation of related interpretive materials.
  • Evaluate and recommend acquisitions and deaccessions of modern and contemporary art.
  • Contribute to the ongoing creation of the comprehensive catalogue of Philbrook’s collections, including verifying, correcting, and augmenting existing collection records and database, as well as researching and contributing to scholarship related to the collection.
  • Advise on the long-term care of the modern/contemporary art collections, including major conservation programs as well as in-house care and maintenance.
  • Create innovative programs geared toward both focused and broad general audiences.
  • Collaborate across the institution to support efforts in fundraising, learning & audience engagement, collections care, programming, public relations, and communications.
  • Develop and administer operating budget and project-specific budgets, as assigned.
  • Recruit, select, train, schedule work activities, and supervise interns, volunteers, or fellows working with modern/contemporary art collection.

Benefits

  • Health insurance
  • Maternity and Paternity Leave
  • Paid time off (PTO), Sick Leave, Paid Holidays
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Long Term Disability and other supplemental insurances
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • 403(b) retirement plan and matching
© 2026 Teal Labs, Inc
Privacy PolicyTerms of Service