Summer Modern & Contemporary Art Research Internship

PRIMARY FUNCTION

3 MONTH PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIP- – Phillips is currently seeking motivated, detail-oriented individuals who work well in deadline-driven environments for our fixed-term, 3-month-long Summer internship with a Monday-Friday 9am-6pm schedule in the Modern & Contemporary Art department, beginning on June 1, 2026 and ending on August 7, 2026. The deadline to apply is February 20, 2026 at 5pm EDT.

Based in our New York Headquarters at 432 Park Avenue, this role is great for someone looking for a long-term career in the auction world, and who is interested in high level research in a fast-paced environment. Interns will be trained in Phillips' systems and research procedures in order to directly contribute to the department.

By assisting in preparatory research and administrative duties for the Summer and Fall sales—the Modern & Contemporary Art Evening, Day and Midseason Sales—successful applicants will benefit from this unique opportunity for professional development through hands-on experience in the art industry. Phillips values a workforce with a wide variety of experiences, backgrounds and skills, so we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the qualifications.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Research Intern will primarily assist the department in the following ways:

• Work with Cataloguers daily on research for specific works of art to prepare them for sale


• Visit local scholarly libraries and use their physical book collections for departmental research


• Compile data into appraisals and proposals to assist with business-getting


• Help Sale Administrators prepare client-facing documents during the pre-sale process


• Collaborate with other Research Interns to efficiently complete the above tasks

The Research Intern will additionally have the opportunity to:

• Participate in auction-day roles for sales across all departments


• Record sale results for Phillips sales and our competitors


• Assist with ad-hoc research projects and auction-related tasks

The Research Intern will benefit from the following enrichment experiences:

• Tour Phillips’ Long Island City warehouse and shadow Cataloguers during artwork inspection at the beginning of the internship


• One to two gallery and/or museum visits with members of our department

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

• The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of Modern and Contemporary art. They should have excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to deal effectively and efficiently with multiple tasks while working to meet strict deadlines.


• Experience with on-site research at libraries and/or archives.


• Previous relevant experience and/or education preferred.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING 

Recent graduates with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, or current students with full-time, in-person availability.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Passionate interest in Modern & Contemporary Art and interest in pursuing a career within an auction house


• Strong verbal and written communication skills


• Attentive to detail


• Process oriented


• Enjoys working with others towards a common goal


• Willingness and desire to learn and ask questions


• A nimble problem solver with an entrepreneurial spirit


• Strong work ethic with effective time management; ability to multi-task, take initiative and work well independently

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The Summer Internship Program consists of four to five positions that require an in-person schedule Monday-Friday 9am-6pm. Interns are compensated at minimum wage in New York City.


• Work is undertaken primarily within an office environment in our New York location and offsite spaces for research such as libraries.


• Ability to work evenings and weekends as necessary.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a 500-word writing sample on a Modern or Contemporary art-related topic of your choosing to: https://phillipsauctioneers.bamboohr.com/careers/497

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The hourly pay for the role is $17.00 per hour.


• Only candidates who can work an in-person schedule of 5 days per week, Monday-Friday 9am-6pm will be considered for this internship.