Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. We cannot imagine life without art; it inspires and connects us every day. Now more than ever, these connections matter and are aligned with our values.

Inclusive: We strive to be a museum of many voices in dialogue.  

Passionate: We believe working with art is more than a job or trusteeship - it's a way of life.  

Brave: We are committed to approaching our work with courage and a sense of adventure, always ready to explore new perspectives.

Empathic: We aim to act like a person, not an institution. 

SFMOMA is a place for the infinitely curious to explore, support, and experience the art of our time. We believe that modern and contemporary art can influence the way we think, view the world, and embrace the many voices and perspectives around us. We aspire to foster an environment that elicits joy, nurtures a sense of belonging and purpose—where difference is seen as a strength, and every one is appreciated for their whole self.

Partnership Project with MoAD

This position will be working as part of a partnership project with the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). MoAD is a contemporary art museum that celebrates Black cultures, ignites challenging conversations, and inspires learning through the global lens of the African Diaspora. MoAD is one of the only few museums in the United States dedicated to the celebration and interpretation of art, artists, and cultures from the African Diaspora. The museum presents exhibitions highlighting contemporary art and artist of African descent and engages its audience through education and public programs that interpret and enhance the understanding of Black art. MoAD is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and plays a vital role in the local arts community. MoAD is uniquely positioned as one of the few museums in the world focused exclusively on African Diaspora culture and on presenting the rich cultural heritage of the people of Africa and of African descendant cultures across the globe. 

General Job Overview

The Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora will specialize in African diasporic art and culture, bringing unique expertise in the art of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas to an innovative cross-institutional curatorial collaboration between the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). Selected by SFMOMA in consultation and partnership with MoAD, neighboring institutions within San Francisco’s downtown Yerba Buena cultural district, the Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora will be an SFMOMA employee. Performance reviews will be conducted by SFMOMA as part of SFMOMA’s standard annual employee performance evaluation process. The position will assist in the selection, research, development, planning, production, and interpretation of permanent collection and special exhibitions at SFMOMA and MoAD.

The inaugural position will be funded by SFMOMA as a full-time SFMOMA staff role for a 3-year at-will term. The position will help lead major, multi-year collaborative projects for SFMOMA and MoAD. The Assistant Curator will devote a significant portion of their time (up to 50%) to supporting MoAD projects. In the course of their work, they will support curatorial projects shared by both museums, expand SFMOMA’s collections and programs, innovate MoAD’s public and academic programs, and help to foster connections between the two institutions on areas of overlapping programmatic interest.

Early in their tenure, the Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora will familiarize themselves with SFMOMA’s collection, MoAD’s Emerging Artist Program, and the exhibition histories of both museums. During their tenure, the candidate will help to develop a synthesized programmatic approach that will help connect the museums with current and prospective visitors and strengthen relationships with artists and art organizations. This position is a key component of the MoAD + SFMOMA partnership project.

The Assistant Curator is also involved in supporting the accessions process at SFMOMA, including writing defenses for proposed acquisitions, drafting scripts for presentations, and coordinating the installation of proposed acquisitions. Additionally, the Assistant Curator conceives, organizes, generates texts for galleries and publications and installs special and permanent collection exhibitions, as assigned. These exhibitions require that the Assistant Curator collaborate with coworkers drawn from the Registration, Conservation, Publications, Research and Exhibitions departments.

The Assistant Curator will support MoAD’s robust exhibitions calendar including the conception, research, organization and development of interpretive tools and texts. In nearly every element of their work, they will collaborate closely with colleagues across the museum in Public and Academic Engagement, Youth and Family Engagement, as well as the Marketing and Development departments.

• Conceives and organizes collaborative projects for SFMOMA and MoAD that may include collection- based and special exhibitions at both institutions, exhibitions drawn from SFMOMA’s collection for MOAD, touring exhibitions, co-commissions, performance/events, and educational programming/curricula.
• Contributes to the selection, research, development, exhibition, and interpretation of the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Prepares didactic and publication materials; installs collection and special exhibitions.
• Facilitates interdepartmental communication regarding exhibitions, working closely with departments of Exhibitions, Registration, Installation, Conservation, Publications, Communications, Marketing, and Design. Heads and/or facilitates external communication with artists, collectors, lenders, dealers, and staff members from other museums.
• Assists curators in the research and development of the SFMOMA collection associated with art from the African Diaspora. Further develops the depth, quality, and diversity of the SFMOMA collection through recommendations and presentations of purchases and gifts.
• Assists MoAD’s chief of curatorial affairs with exhibitions research and development, including sourcing artworks and ephemera for loans.
• Conducts gallery and studio visits, and follows the development of emerging as well as established artists, to maintain awareness of contemporary African diasporic artists.
• Acts as spokesperson for the MoAD + SFMOMA collaborative project. Presents lectures, educational information, and walk-throughs to visitors, docents, or other special groups.
• Assists with drafting and producing correspondence, loan forms, manuscripts, exhibition wall labels, memoranda, and other materials related to the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Maintains computer database of checklists for exhibitions. Assists with acquisition and exhibition research including, but not limited to, research and compilation of biographies, chronologies, and exhibition histories, and specific documentation of individual works.
• Partners with the Education department on programs relevant to special exhibitions, collection shows, and other projects and professional development opportunities including research, publications, lectures, and panel discussions at SFMOMA and MoAD.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Master’s degree in African, African American, or African Diaspora Studies; Art History; or Cultural Studies with emphasis in visual culture or contemporary art of the African Diaspora. Fluency in other language(s) in addition to English a strong asset.
• Minimum of three (3) years of curatorial experience in an arts or educational institution, organization, or museum.
• Knowledge of African diasporic art history and terminology.
• Superb writing, public speaking, and diplomatic skills are essential.
• Demonstrated creativity, innovation, and ability to maximize resources.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Excellent planning, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize and organize multiple activities and supervise staff members around a common project.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively in a diverse, dynamic team setting and to balance multiple competing priorities

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

SFMOMA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. No person shall be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, genetic information, ancestry/national origin, marital status, disability, medical condition, HIV status, sexual orientation, veteran/military status, and any other category protected by federal of state law. If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you may request reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or with providing additional information asked in the job posting. You can request reasonable accommodation by contacting the People Team at talent@sfmoma.org.

Location: San Francisco, 151 3rd Street. 

Benefits: SF City Option, SFMOMA Membership, and more

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. 

SFMOMA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. No person shall be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, genetic information, ancestry/national origin, marital status, disability, medical condition, HIV status, sexual orientation, veteran/military status, and any other category protected by federal of state law.

You may request reasonable accommodation if you are unable to or are limited in your ability to access job postings or provide additional information asked in the job posting.

You can request reasonable accommodation by contacting the People Team at talent@sfmoma.org.