Research Internship

Description

Gagosian is pleased to offer a one-year internship position at our Grosvenor Hill location. We are looking for a committed and proactive individual, with strong research abilities, impeccable attention to detail, and a passion for art. Applicants must have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, multi-task and prioritise.

We believe that our Gagosian interns are integral to the functioning of the gallery. Through focused development, we aim to attract and retain a diverse pool of talent.

The internship will support the personal and professional growth of the candidate to enhance future career opportunities, both at Gagosian and in the wider art world.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Cataloguing:

• Catalogue primary and secondary artwork consignments by thoroughly researching provenance, exhibition and publication history using internal and external libraries, online databases, archives, and other resources
• Build effective working relationships across departments to facilitate efficient information sharing and support time-sensitive consignments and exhibition needs
• Research comparable auction sales, museum collections and summarizing key points for research dossiers focused on individual artworks
• Occasional writing of select sales-oriented texts for research dossiers focused on individual artworks, with attention to highlighting work's historical context, rarity, notable provenance and exhibition history, and other relevant details
• Maintain consistency with the gallery's cataloguing standards, house style, and artist-specific research conventions.
• Develop expertise in artist-specific research practices, internal resources, and historical documentation to ensure accurate and consistent cataloguing.
• Support general research needs related to exhibitions, consignments, and artist markets
• Adhere to the gallery's house style and formatting protocols for documentation
• Assist in document layout/design with occasional use of Adobe InDesign

Library:

• Maintain and oversee cataloguing of the London library and auction catalogue inventory for circulation within the gallery
• Carry out book checks to support members of the global Research team
• Support staff with locating library resources and coordinating requests for new acquisitions
• Monitor upcoming exhibition schedule to identify and acquire relevant exhibition catalogues, monographs, and other publications and resources
• Liaise with global library team to align on changes to gallery-wide library standards

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field required (M.A. strongly preferred) with some professional experience working in commercial galleries or auction houses
• Exceptional research and writing skills
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow house-style and editorial guidelines
• Familiarity with cataloguing best practices and primary/secondary source research
• Proficiency with Microsoft, Adobe, and Google applications; basic knowledge of InDesign is a plus, but not required
• Proof of right to work in the UK

Skills and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of the gallery world and modern and contemporary art
• Familiarity with art resources and databases
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information
• Excellent communication and written skills
• Possess excellent time management and organisational skills
• Must be able to work independently and exercise judgement as needed
• Able to complete work efficiently and accurately in a deadline-driven environment
• Highly detail-oriented
• Excellent proofreading skills

About Gagosian

Established by Larry Gagosian in Los Angeles in 1980, Gagosian is a global gallery specializing in modern and contemporary art that employs more than three hundred people at eighteen exhibition spaces across the United States, Europe, and Asia. In addition to its galleries, Gagosian is at the forefront of the digital marketplace with innovative online viewing rooms, timed to coincide with major art fairs, that include highly desirable works by today's leading artists, transparent pricing, historical scholarship, and insightful market analysis.