Temporary Associate Cataloguer, Private Sales & Middle Market Auctions

About the role

Sotheby’s is seeking a Temporary Associate Cataloguer to support the Private Sales and Middle Market Auction teams. This role will assist in researching, cataloguing, and preparing works for upcoming auctions and private sales. The position offers exposure to all stages of the auction and private sale cycles and close collaboration with specialists, researchers, and cross-departmental partners.

Responsibilities

• Assist with cataloguing, researching, and preparing notes for Private Sales and Middle Market Fine Art departments
• Organize scans and references for catalogue entries/perform thorough book checks and vetting
• Draft catalogue essays
• Maintain comprehensive property files for sale including fact sheets, images, and supporting documentation
• Support proposal process for business development efforts
• Contribute to valuation listings as needed
• Collaborate on paste-ups and layouts for both digital and print publications, from online catalogues to printed mini books and collection catalogues
• Ensure color accuracy of lot images and assist with direction for photography and video
• Liaise with necessary support departments including pre-sale administration, registrars, catalogue production, press and marketing
• Collaborate with sale team on exhibition preparation and installation
• Support the larger department by answering the phones and handling mainline requests
• Ad hoc projects and assignments as needed and assigned by manager
• Manage authentication processes and gallery outreach for authentication purposes

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, ideally in relevant area of study/interest
• 1-2 years of professional experience required
• General knowledge of Contemporary art history, artists, and values
• Self-starter
• Extreme familiarity with Institutional library systems
• Impeccable organizational & writing skills
• Strong time-management skills
• A team player with excellent communication skills
• Thorough and focused, with a passion and commitment to learning about and working in the field
• Professional and discreet client service skills
• Dependable, proactive, mature
• Long hours required, included late evenings and weekends during sale deadlines, exhibitions and auctions
• Ability to multitask and perform in a pressured environment and handle high level of responsibility
• Ability to work well with others as well as independently in order to achieve deadlines
• Proficiency in Spanish is a plus

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with database management systems
• Knowledge of art market and auction industry
• Experience with photography and videography

Skills

• Attention to detail
• Strong research and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong organizational and time management skills

Benefits

The proposed base salary for this position ranges from $25 - $26/hr.

Pay

The proposed base salary for this position ranges from $25 - $26/hr.

Schedule

The proposed base salary for this position ranges from $25 - $26/hr.