Newfields, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, seeks a dynamic and collaborative Curator of American Art to serve as a vital member of its curatorial team, providing vision, strategic direction, and stewardship for Museum’s well-respected American Art collection, which includes nearly 1,000 paintings and sculpture dating from the 18^th century to the present. This position will work closely with the Director of the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) and colleagues across the institution to oversee the interpretation, care, and strategic development of Newfields’ distinguished American collection. This role presents an exceptional opportunity to shape the interpretation, exhibitions, and acquisitions strategy of a collection of remarkable depth and quality during a dynamic period of renewal and institutional growth at Newfields. This is both a strategic and hands-on role, requiring a blend of scholarly excellence, collaborative leadership, and a deep passion for making the rich and diverse story of American art accessible and meaningful.

About Newfields

Newfields is a distinctive cultural campus where art, nature, and people come together. Located on 152 acres in the Crown Hill neighborhood of Indianapolis, Newfields is home to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the historic Lilly House, and The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park and the Miller House in Columbus, IN. Newfields provides exceptional experiences with art and nature that enrich lives and build community, offering a dynamic year-round calendar of exhibitions, festivals, performances, and public programs. The institution has an annual operating budget of nearly $40 million and welcomes over 600,000 visitors each year.

The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields (IMA) is one of the oldest and largest encyclopedic art museums in the United States, nationally significant for its historic legacy, the quality and breadth of its collections, and its innovative blending of art, architecture, and landscape. Founded in 1883 as the Art Association of Indianapolis, the Museum has grown from a civic art initiative into a leading cultural institution with a global reach.

Newfields expansive and diverse collection encompasses more than 40,000 works, spanning 4,000 years and a broad spectrum of cultures and media. The Museum’s American Art collection—long a cornerstone of its holdings—encompasses nearly1,000 paintings and sculptures and access to an additional 2,000 American art objects spanning prints, photography, contemporary art, decorative arts, fashion, and design that are available for ongoing contextual study regarding the artistic heritage of the United States. The collection features paintings and sculpture representing a wide range of artistic movements and historical periods in American art. Highlights include important works by Gilbert Stuart, Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, Horace Pippin, William Merritt Chase, and Grant Wood, among others, as well as significant holdings in 19th-century landscape painting and early American modernism.

Newfields is actively engaged in reimagining its role as a civic and cultural institution in the 21st century. In recent years, the institution has launched bold initiatives to expand community engagement, deepen its commitment to inclusion, and explore the intersections of art and the environment. Examples include community engagement initiatives that bring underrepresented voices into the Museum's planning and programming processes, and Winterlights, a seasonal nighttime experience that integrates contemporary art installations with immersive light displays in the gardens.

The Museum presents approximately ten to fifteen exhibitions each year, ranging from its Bret Waller Community Gallery programs to major traveling shows to original exhibitions organized by its curators. Recent American art exhibitions have included Work in Progress: Conversations About American Art (2023), which provided new context to how artists, critics, and the public approached American art for over 200 years, and Edward Hopper and the American Hotel (2020). The next curator is expected to reimagine the gallery space over the coming years.

Curators at Newfields enjoy the collaboration of a dedicated team of registrars, conservators, exhibition specialists, educators, and scholars, as well as access to outstanding collections and facilities. The Museum’s ongoing investment in research, conservation, and interpretation creates rich opportunities for curators to advance scholarship, organize ambitious exhibitions, and shape the narratives that define the institution’s relationship with its diverse audiences.

The Opportunity

The Curator of American Art will join Newfields at a pivotal moment of institutional renewal and curatorial reinvention. As the Museum reimagines its exhibitions, public programs, and interpretive strategies, this role offers a unique chance to shape the future of a significant American art collection within a forward-thinking and collaborative environment. Key opportunities include:

·       Strategic Leadership: Contribute leadership to the reimagining and strategic planning of the Museum’s curatorial department.

·       Gallery Transformation: Lead the deinstallation and reinstallation of the American permanent collection galleries as they undergo renovation, with a strong focus on inclusive storytelling, accessibility, and impact.

·       Collection Visibility: Create and implement strategies to rotate works from the permanent collection, increasing visibility and public access.

·       Collection Development: Build the collection through thoughtful and strategic acquisitions that fill historical and thematic gaps, particularly with regards to pre-1975 works of art.

·       Exhibition Excellence: Organize and curate exhibitions that showcase Newfields’ world-class collection while balancing scholarly rigor and broad audience appeal.

Responsibilities and Expectations

The Curator of American Art will collaborate with the Director of the IMA and others to oversee the interpretation, care, and development of Newfields’ distinguished American collection. This role is both strategic and hands-on, requiring a balance of scholarly expertise, collaborative leadership, and a passion for engaging diverse audiences with American art. Working across departments, the Curator will contribute to exhibition planning, acquisitions, interpretation, public programs, and fundraising in support of Newfields’ mission and vision. Among other responsibilities, they will:

• Lead Newfields efforts to create engaging experiences in the American Art galleries, including innovative interpretation dynamic object rotation.
• Serve as a curatorial lead in gallery reinstallations and long-range planning for the American Art collection.
• Build meaningful relationships with collectors and assist Newfields in creating pathways for donor engagement, grant writing, and fundraising.
• Lead and collaborate on special exhibitions and traveling shows, from concept through implementation, ensuring scholarly depth and audience relevance.
• Manage loans to and from the collection, ensuring adherence to conservation standards and best practices regarding curatorial oversight
• Co-manage a Curatorial Assistant, whose role is to facilitate rotations, loans, and supports research.
• Conduct original research on the American collection; publish scholarship and oversee provenance research.
• Recommend acquisitions that strategically strengthen and diversify the collection, identifying crucial gaps and new directions.
• Represent Newfields at professional conferences, symposia, and within national and international networks, fostering scholarly exchange and collaboration.
• Present gallery talks, lectures, and training for docents and staff; actively engage with a broad range of audiences to make art accessible and relevant.
• Actively collaborate with cross-institutional teams as required to achieve shared goals.
• Engage the public readily, supporting and embodying Newfields’ commitment to inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of curatorial work.
• Propose and develop public programs and educational initiatives that promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of American art for diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with the conservation department on the care, preservation, and study of the American art collection.
• Contribute to the ongoing digitization and online accessibility of the American art collection.

Inclusive Curation of American Art at Newfields

At Newfields, the curation of American art is a dynamic and evolving practice dedicated to fostering a rich, multi-faceted understanding of this significant historical period. We believe that art is a powerful lens through which to explore shared human experiences, and our approach to American art reflects a commitment to inclusive storytelling and broad accessibility. Instead of solely focusing on traditional narratives, we actively seek perspectives and illuminate the diverse voices, identities, and histories that shaped American art. This includes:

Expanding the Canon: Including exploring artists whose contributions have historically been overlooked. Demonstrating how historical American art remains relevant to contemporary issues and dialogues, fostering connections between past and present.

Intersectional Interpretation: Exploring the complex interplay of factors such as gender, class, religion, ethnicity, and geography in the creation and reception of American art. This means looking at economic and social structures that have influenced artistic production and patronage.

Global Connections: Recognizing that American art did not develop in isolation. We emphasize the interconnectedness of cultures, exploring the influence of diverse people and global economic and social concerns on American artistic traditions.

Multilingual and Multi-sensory Engagement: Providing interpretation that goes beyond traditional wall texts, incorporating diverse voices, digital resources, and multi-sensory experiences to ensure our galleries are accessible and engaging for all visitors, regardless of background or learning style.

By embracing these practices, Newfields aims to create an inviting and intellectually stimulating environment where the American art collection serves as a catalyst for critical thinking, empathy, and shared understanding, reflecting our commitment to being a truly inclusive cultural institution for the 21st century.

Experience, Skills, and Attributes

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Art History with a focus on American Art or relevant specialization; knowledge of Indigenous Art, Decorative Arts or Design is a plus.
• Minimum five years as a full or senior curator in a museum or comparable setting required.
• Proven record of original research, publication, and engaging exhibition development.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive storytelling and to expanding the canon of American art history, with demonstrated general expertise from the American Colonial period to the present preferred.
• Experience developing and stewarding acquisitions and working with collectors, donors, and artists.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects, including gallery reinstallations and cross-departmental initiatives, from concept to completion.
• Strong communication skills; comfortable engaging with diverse audiences and representing the institution in public forums.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively within a team environment while also exercising independent judgment.
• Experience cultivating funding opportunities, including writing grants and supporting development efforts.
• Thorough knowledge of museum best practices, including collections stewardship, provenance, and ethical guidelines.

Compensation

The salary range is $90,000 - $115,000 commensurate with experience, plus an attractive benefits package.

Diversity Commitment

Celebrating the diversity of our donors, guests, volunteers, and staff is a key part of the Newfields vision. Diversity is understanding, respecting, and valuing differences. Simply put, we believe our guests and donors are best served by a team comprised of both staff and volunteers who leverage and listen to the unique viewpoints of the communities we serve. We strive to attract and retain exceptional employees who feel comfortable in an inclusive culture that supports their ability to thrive and adds their voice to the ongoing conversation.

How to Apply

To apply in confidence, submit application by August 4, 2025, to: Dan Yaeger, Senior Search Consultant, Museum Search & Reference, via SearchandRef@museum-search.com. Please make sure to write down the Curatorial position you are interested in.

Please include:

1)    A cover letter expressing interest in the position and giving brief examples of past related experience.

2)    A résumé.

3)    The names and contact information for three professional references, indicating their relationship with the candidate.

A portfolio of work in PDF format will be required on request from candidates who advance in the search, including photos of relevant exhibitions managed plus samples of exhibition text and scholarly writing.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as candidates will be considered on a rolling basis. All applications and nominations are kept confidential; we will not contact references without your permission. Nominations are welcome. For more details, visit: www.museum-search.com/open-searches.

We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this position.