Research Assistant

137 W. 25th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10001

Sep 19, 2026

Aug 18, 2026

GRADE/STATUS:
Full Time, Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO:

Project Manager, Mitchell Catalogue Raisonné
EFFECTIVE DATE:
August 17, 2026
HIRING SALARY RANGE: $60,000 – 65,000

LOCATION:

New York, NY / Hybrid (3 days/week in office) / Some local travel required
Final date to receive applications:
September 19, 2026

POSITION SUMMARY
The Joan Mitchell Catalogue Raisonné (JMCR) seeks an experienced and enthusiastic Research Assistant to support on-going research related to Joan Mitchell’s paintings. The Joan Mitchell Catalogue Raisonné (JMCR) was established by the Joan Mitchell Foundation (JMF) as a limited liability company to research and produce a definitive art historical record documenting the complete oeuvre of paintings on canvas by Joan Mitchell (1925–1992).

The catalogue raisonné is currently in the research phase, moving towards readying material for an initial publication. Working in collaboration with the Project Manager and JMCR research team, the Research Assistant will be responsible for outreach (to institutions and private individuals), sourcing and retrieving archival and other secondary source materials, maintaining digital and paper filing systems, data entry (File Maker) and monitoring the JMCR’s email account.

The Research Assistant will also provide administrative support related to the examination, photography, and cataloguing of paintings.
The Research Assistant position requires great attention to detail, focusing heavily on data entry, fact-checking, and administrative support. The Research Assistant will also have opportunities to see and examine Mitchell’s paintings in person. The ideal candidate possesses an academic background in 20th-century art history and has scholarly and/or professional research experience. Training will be provided, and this is a position with room for growth.

Readiness to learn on the job is essential.
A successful candidate will have excellent communication skills and a great ability to multi-task and prioritize. This position requires independent work as well as collaboration within the JMCR team and the wider Joan Mitchell Foundation.

• Data entry:
  Regularly and accurately update and verify artwork records in File Maker (with information from submission forms and other documentation) in accordance with JMCR Style Guidelines and the Chicago Manual of Style.
• Research:
  Initiate and accomplish targeted searches in museum libraries, online auction databases, and digital archives to locate missing citations and/or verify research findings;
  Assist with documenting and cross-referencing information from various sources(archives, libraries, online databases, and JMF/JMCR’s internal files);
  Monitor Google Alerts and other news aggregators for information about Joan Mitchell and track/report findings for the JMCR team;
  Digital image management:
  Organize research images, including uploading and tagging exam photographs in File Maker Pro
• Outreach to auction houses:
  In collaboration with the JMCR team, prepare bi-annual letter campaigns for auction houses to encourage submissions and track provenance.
• Administrative support:
  Assist the research team pre- and post-painting examinations (includes: correspondence with registrars, collection managers, and private collectors);
  Process/file exam notes and tag photographs in File Maker;
  Assist with travel planning;
  Check info inbox regularly and address necessary items in coordination with the Project Manager;
  Additional administrative support will include updating spreadsheets and calendars, filing, scanning, xeroxing, sending/receiving packages, as necessary
• Research collaboration & knowledge sharing:
  Coll…