Associate Curator, South & Southeast Asian Art

Job Summary

The Curator will serve as a scholar and subject matter expert in South Asian and Himalayan art, with particular emphasis on Tibetan art and Indian court painting from the Sultanate through the colonial periods. This role is responsible for researching, caring for, interpreting, exhibiting, and expanding the collection, while contributing to scholarship, publications, and public engagement initiatives.

Working collaboratively with fellow curators, conservators, collections management, and other institutional teams, the Curator will develop thematic installations, propose special exhibitions, oversee acquisitions, and strengthen relationships with scholars, collectors, and donors. The position requires strong academic credentials, connoisseurship, and the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively to diverse audiences.

Primary Responsibilities & Duties

• Organize regular rotations and installations in collaboration with curatorial colleagues

• Research, catalogue, and publish works from the Indian subcontinent, with a focus on Indian painting and Tibetan art

• Review and update object records in the collections database, including provenance research in partnership with specialists

• Collaborate with conservation professionals to ensure proper care, documentation, and preservation of artworks

• Propose and organize special exhibitions and related publications

• Facilitate cross-cultural and thematic displays in coordination with other curatorial areas

• Recommend acquisitions through purchase or gift, including conducting provenance research and working with dealers and collectors

• Review outgoing loan requests and advise leadership and registrars

• Contribute to public programs including lectures, tours, docent training, and mentorship of interns and fellows

• Cultivate and steward donors and collectors to support acquisitions and fundraising efforts

• Participate in advisory board and donor engagement events

• Respond to scholarly inquiries and assist visiting researchers and the public

• Build and maintain professional relationships with scholars, dealers, collectors, and institutional peers domestically and internationally

• Communicate effectively in written and spoken formats for academic, professional, and public audiences

• Work independently and collaboratively across departments including administration, collections, conservation, education, publications, advancement, and digital teams

• Attend institutional events and conduct collection visits as required

• Perform additional related duties as assigned

Requirements & Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree or doctoral coursework in South Asian Art History

• Minimum five (5) years of curatorial or academic experience focused on South Asian pre-modern art history

• Demonstrated scholarly achievement through original research, publications, and public presentations

• Strong connoisseurship and deep knowledge of Tibetan art and Indian painting traditions

• Ability to conduct primary-source research in Sanskrit and Hindi; proficiency in Tibetan preferred

• Working knowledge of at least one Indian and one European language preferred

• Experience cultivating donors and collectors and advocating for acquisitions

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills

• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams while maintaining institutional integrity and independence

• Demonstrated strength in quality of work, collaboration, communication, and adaptability