Curator of Asian Art

Newfields, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, seeks a dynamic and collaborative Curator of Asian Art to serve as a vital member of its curatorial team, providing vision, strategic direction, and stewardship of the Museum’s esteemed Asian Art collection, which encompasses significant holdings from East, Southeast, and South Asia. 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.

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. 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, the Museum has grown from a civic art initiative into a leading cultural institution with a global reach. Newfields’s expansive and diverse collection encompasses more than 40,000 works, spanning 5,000 years and a broad spectrum of cultures and media. The Museum’s Asian Art collection is renowned for its depth and diversity, featuring significant holdings of approximately 5,000 objects in Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and South Asian art.

Highlights include a significant collection of Japanese prints, Edo period paintings and screens, brilliant Ming and Qing dynasty ceramics, Chinese glass, crystal, jade, lacquerware, and textiles, and a burgeoning contemporary ceramics program. The 24,000‑square‑foot Asian Art galleries highlight both beloved masterworks and new acquisitions. Featured objects include Geese and Reeds in Snow, a pair of Edo‑period folding screens by Mochizuki Gyokusen; Composite Memories, a sculptural work by contemporary ceramicist Kishi Eiko; a 13th‑century celadon bowl from Korea’s Goryeo Dynasty; and ornate fittings for a pair of samurai swords.

The Museum presents approximately ten to fifteen exhibitions each year, ranging from major traveling shows to original exhibitions organized by its curators. Recent exhibitions in the department have celebrated the richness of Asian art traditions. The revitalized Japanese Art galleries, reopened in October 2023, highlight both beloved masterworks and new acquisitions. 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.

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 Asian 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 major Asian art collection within a forward‑thinking and collaborative environment.

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

Compensation: The salary range is $105,000 - $135,000 commensurate with experience, plus an attractive benefits package.

Diversity Commitment: Celebrating the diversity of donors, guests, volunteers, and staff is a key part of this Newfields vision. Diversity is understanding, respecting, and valuing differences. They 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.

Requirements Responsibilities and Expectations: Lead Newfields efforts to create engaging experiences in the Asian Art galleries, including innovative interpretation and object rotation. Serve as a curatorial lead in gallery reinstallations and long‑range planning for the Asian 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 support research. Conduct original research on the Asian art collections; 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 Asian art for diverse audiences. Collaborate with the conservation department on the care, preservation, and study of the Asian art collection. Contribute to the ongoing digitization and online accessibility of the Asian art collection.

Inclusive Curation of Asian Art at Newfields: At Newfields, the curation of Asian art is an evolving practice rooted in inclusion, accessibility, and cultural relevance. They believe art offers a powerful lens into the complexities of human experience, and they approach Asian art as a dynamic, interconnected tradition shaped by diverse voices, identities, and global influences. Rather than presenting a singular narrative, they highlight the plurality of Asian art—examining how gender, class, religion, ethnicity, and geography inform its creation and reception. They are committed to amplifying underrepresented artists and stories, and to connecting historical works to contemporary dialogues around issues such as gender, migration, and social change.

Experience, Skills, and Attributes: Ph.D. degree in Art History, Asian Studies, or a related field preferred, or the equivalent. Thorough knowledge of Asian art required, expertise in Japanese Art, Chinese Art, or a relevant specialization strongly preferred. Proficiency in Asian language(s) required. Minimum five years as a curator or associate curator in a museum or comparable setting required. International network of professional colleagues, collectors, dealers, and artists; must be willing to travel. Record of original research, publication, and exhibition development. Must have curated or co‑curated an exhibition and to have authored, co‑authored, or worked on a published catalogue. Experience developing, stewarding, and presenting acquisition(s) and working with collectors, donors, and artists. Ability to manage complex projects, including gallery reinstallations and cross‑departmental initiatives, from concept to completion. Communication skills; comfortable engaging with diverse audiences and representing the institution in public forums. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in curatorial practice. Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively within a team environment while also exercising independent judgment. Experience or interest in cultivating funding opportunities, including writing grants and supporting development efforts. Thorough knowledge of museum best practices, including collection stewardship, provenance, and ethical guidelines.

Even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications for this position, if much of the full job description describes you, then please apply for it. Please make sure to write down the Curatorial position you are interested in.

Application Materials: 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; they will not contact references without your permission. Nominations are welcome.