Senior Curator - African Art

The Senior Curator, African Art is responsible for providing scholarly, strategic, and curatorial leadership for the museum’s modern and contemporary African Art collection (1960s to the present) and related programming. The role will lead the development of collection strategies, acquisitions, exhibitions, research initiatives, publications, and institutional partnerships that advance the mission of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The Senior Curator will serve as a recognized expert in modern and contemporary African art and will contribute to the museum’s vision of fostering global artistic dialogue through innovative exhibitions, research, and audience engagement.

• Lead the strategic development, growth, and stewardship of the African Art collection in alignment with the museum’s mission, vision, and institutional priorities.
• Define collecting priorities and acquisition strategies, identifying significant works and opportunities for collection enhancement.
• Provide curatorial oversight for collection rotations, installations, and re-installations, ensuring the highest standards of scholarship and interpretation.
• Collaborate closely with Conservation, Registration, Collections Management, and Exhibition teams to ensure the care, documentation, and presentation of artworks.

• Conceive, research, develop, and lead major exhibitions, collection installations, commissions, and interdisciplinary curatorial projects.
• Serve as lead curator for complex and large-scale exhibitions from concept development through implementation and evaluation.
• Lead exhibition planning, object selection, interpretation, publications, and related public programs.
• Manage complex domestic and international loan negotiations and agreements for exhibitions and collection projects.
• Collaborate with other institutions and partners on co-organized and traveling exhibitions.

• Conduct original research on African art and contribute to the advancement of scholarship within the field.
• Lead and undertake collection research, including provenance research where required.
• Publish original scholarly work through exhibition catalogues, collection publications, digital platforms, peer-reviewed journals, books, and other academic forums.
• Maintain awareness of emerging developments, trends, and critical discourse related to African art and contemporary curatorial practice.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with artists, collectors, galleries, auction houses, museums, cultural institutions, scholars, and donors.
• Represent Guggenheim Abu Dhabi as an international ambassador through lectures, conference presentations, panel discussions, juries, and professional networks.
• Support institutional partnerships and collaborative initiatives with museums, universities, and cultural organizations globally.
• Engage with collectors and patrons to facilitate acquisitions, donations, and long‑term relationships that strengthen the museum’s collection.
• Member, Sponsor and Donor Relations:
  Support the growth of membership groups and philanthropic partnerships for the museum.
• Contribute to grant applications, sponsorship opportunities, donor cultivation, and stewardship activities.

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and supervision to Associate Curators, Assistant Curators, researchers, interns, and project-based staff.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, intellectual rigor, innovation, and professional development.
• Work effectively across departments to ensure successful delivery of curatorial objectives and institutional goals.

• Contribute to the…