Researcher Joan Mitchell Catalogue Raisonné

The Joan Mitchell Foundation was established following Joan Mitchell's death in 1992, under a mandate in her will to  aid and assist  working artists while stewarding her artistic legacy. Since its founding, the Foundation has developed a range of programs supporting living artists, including grants and the Joan Mitchell Center, a residency facility in New Orleans. In February 2015, the Foundation established the Joan Mitchell Catalogue Raisonné as an independent research project (structured as a limited liability company) dedicated to documenting the complete body of Mitchell's paintings on canvas for an eventual scholarly publication.

The project is based at the Foundation's New York office and maintains a small dedicated research team, including a Project Manager and Researchers based in New York and Paris, who conduct painting examinations, archival research, and photography coordination on Mitchell's works held in public and private collections worldwide. The Foundation does not authenticate artwork or issue opinions on authenticity as part of the Catalogue Raisonné's work.

The Joan Mitchell Catalogue Raisonné (JMCR) is seeking an experienced Researcher to conduct archival and object-based research as the project moves from its research phase toward preparing material for an initial publication. The Researcher's initial focus will be on collecting, verifying, and updating information related to Joan Mitchell paintings held in public collections in the United States and abroad. This includes developing relationships with holding institutions, arranging and conducting painting examinations, coordinating new photography, managing color correction of photographs, and consulting relevant public and restricted-access archives.

The Researcher will also process archival materials and respond to institutional queries directed to the JMCR. As the project progresses, the role's focus will expand to include authoring catalogue entries and conducting research — including examinations, photography, and color correction — on works in private collections.

The position requires meticulous data entry into the project's File Maker database in adherence with the Chicago Manual of Style and the JMCR style guide, as well as maintenance of complex digital and paper filing systems. The role is based in the Foundation's New York office on a hybrid schedule and involves collaboration with the JMCR team and the wider Foundation, alongside independent, self-directed research work.

• Position Type: Full-time, Non-exempt

• Cultivate relationships and access paintings, archives, and other secondary source materials related to Joan Mitchell in museums and institutions across the US and abroad
• Painting Examinations
  • Schedule and conduct examinations of Joan Mitchell paintings in public collections worldwide
  • Document paintings carefully and thoroughly following JMCR guidelines and the Exam Form format
• Photography
  • Coordinate with photographers, museum staff, art handlers, and storage facilities to arrange or obtain new photography (recto/verso) of paintings in public collections
  • Hire photographers and, where needed, art handlers, including negotiating contracts and processing invoices
• Order, review, annotate, and manage photographic proofs of Mitchell's paintings in collaboration with the JMCR's external digital image specialist and the Foundation's Digital Asset Manager
• Check proofs against the paintings themselves to ensure color and material accuracy for publication, and file proofs and digital files appropriately
• Data Processing
  • Enter data sourced from primary and secondary source materials into the JMCR database (File Maker) and file in digital and paper files, including information from submission forms, examinations, fact sheets, correspondence, and archives
• Queries
  • Respond to inquiries from auction houses, galleries, art advisers, and collectors on behalf of the JMCR, in collaboration with the Project Manager
• Administrative
  • Maintain meticulous paper and digital files; track and file expenses; plan travel; collaborate on and adhere to budgets
• Strategic Planning
  • Provide the Project…