Princeton University Art Museum Seeks Assistant Curator for African Art

The Princeton University Art Museum welcomes applications for an Assistant Curator of African Art. This two-year full-time benefits-eligible appointment will help shape the presentation of African art in new collections galleries in a new building designed by Sir David Adjaye, scheduled to open in late 2024. The curator will report to the chief curator and work in close coordination with the director, curators in other areas, designers, educators, faculty, and others. 

The collection of African art at Princeton—growing regularly through gifts and purchase—includes excellent examples of masks, figures, and other works of art, with particular strengths in the arts of Western and Central Africa. In addition, African and African diasporic photography, modern and contemporary art, and works on paper are represented in the collection. The curator joins us at a dynamic time and will play a key role in the collections’ research, installation, and interpretation. 

As part of broader efforts to present art in global, transhistorical contexts in the new building, the curator will develop checklists, conceptualize installation strategies, and produce didactics for African art, in collaboration with the chief curator, director, educators, and designers. The curator should be well versed in area scholarship and the latest curatorial and museological approaches in African art; they should also be able to tap into a network of specialists for expert consultation, as needed. The curator should have the experience necessary to facilitate the presentation of a range of artistic and community voices in the galleries. The ideal candidate will be able to complete deep object research, including provenance; will embrace the possibilities of an academic museum; and will communicate effectively with scholarly and diverse audiences. The curator will also contribute to new acquisitions, participate in collections-based teaching on campus, respond to collections inquiries, and work with conservators and registrars to address conservation and mount-making needs. 

An advanced degree in art history or a related field is preferred, with strong knowledge of historic material and a minimum of 3 years' meaningful experience developing and implementing exhibitions and collections installations. Fluency in the ethical and legal complexities surrounding the history of the collection, display, and interpretation of African art is critical. Excellent communication and writing skills, including experience preparing didactic materials, are expected, together with a high degree of organization, self-motivation, and attention to detail. The salary range for an assistant curator is $70,000-$90,000. 

To learn more, please visit http://artmuseum.princeton.edu. Interested candidates should apply at https://www.princeton.edu/acad-positions/position/25161. 

This position is subject to the University’s background check policy. Contact Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until filled. 

Please direct all inquiries and nominations, including letters of interest and resumes, to, in confidence: Chris Newth Cnewth@princeton.edu Associate Director for Collections and Exhibitions, Princeton University Art Museum