Sotheby's · 6 hours ago
Senior Specialist, Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art, New York
New York, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$140K/yr - $170K/yr
8+ years expSotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury, committed to making the industries more inclusive and sustainable. The Senior Specialist for Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art will play a crucial role in sourcing, cataloguing, and selling artworks while cultivating relationships with clients and contributing to the strategic growth of the category.
ArtCollectiblesEventsRetail
Responsibilities
Proactively identify, source, and secure works forModern and Contemporary South Asian Art sales, developing coherent and dynamic business-getting strategies in partnership with colleagues across London, EMEA, and global teams
Cultivate and maintain relationships with collectors, advisors, institutions, fiduciaries, and key market stakeholders, ensuring exceptional client service and loyalty
Participate in valuation projects and proposal development, evaluating property at Sotheby’s and at client locations, including international travel as appropriate
Help drive private-sale opportunities alongside auction consignments, identifying key selling points and supporting targeted, proactive outreach
Meet individual consignment and revenue goals, contributing meaningfully to annual sales, private-sale targets, and departmental strategic objectives
Provide high-level expertise in Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art, ensuring the highest scholarly standards in cataloguing, research, and contextualization of works
Oversee or contribute to the cataloguing process, including research, catalogue entries, essays, provenance work, condition reporting, and catalog production and layout
Partner with internal and external scholars to strengthen expertise and accuracy; uphold rigorous research and editorial standards that align with Sotheby’s global criteria
Support full sale execution, including exhibition oversight, pre-sale client walkthroughs, client communication, and competitive bidding support during live auctions
Help track client interest, communicate activity to the wider specialist team, and actively 'sell the sale' during exhibition and preview periods
Ensure proactive and accurate management of consignment-related costs, including terms, deal margins, marketing, logistics, loans, and other financial elements
Liaise with Photography, Marketing, Press, Proposals, Registrations, and Operations to ensure seamless sale preparation from intake through settlement
Maintain departmental archives, research materials, and library resources, ensuring their continued accuracy, accessibility, and strategic use
Support the Heads of Department with coordination of departmental priorities, internal communication, and implementation of new initiatives
Coordinate information flow between the department, internal partners, and the Head of Department, ensuring clarity and smooth execution of daily operations
Prepare estimate requests, NSVs, and client correspondence at a professional standard
Liaise with Marketing and Press teams to support social media, digital visibility, and audience engagement for the category
Assist with highlight exhibition organization, promotional activity, and the movement and tracking of property in collaboration with the Department Coordinator and Administrator
Serve as a collaborative partner to colleagues in adjacent departments, contributing to the broader regional and global ecosystem of specialists
Serve as a role model of scholarship, client service, and professional conduct within the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art department
Support the development and mentorship of cataloguers, coordinators, and junior colleagues, offering guidance in research practices, cataloguing methods, and sale process management
Uphold the highest standards of Sotheby’s corporate governance, compliance, ethics, and client confidentiality in every interaction
Qualification
Required
8+ years of experience in Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art through an auction house, gallery, museum, or private dealership
Scholarly training in Art History or a related field, with demonstrated expertise and a sustained engagement in Modern and Contemporary Indian & South Asian Art
Proven ability to evaluate works, produce polished research, and manage cataloguing assignments with precision and authority
Strong working knowledge of the full auction cycle, including valuations, consignments, catalogue production, sale execution, and private sales
Demonstrated success in building and servicing high-level client relationships
Strong business acumen with a track record in business-getting or a demonstrable aptitude for developing new business
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey scholarly insight clearly and persuasively to clients and colleagues
Highly organized, deadline-driven, and composed under pressure, with the ability to prioritize effectively across multiple workstreams
Collaborative, flexible, and team-oriented, with a willingness to 'pitch in' as needed
Fluent English required
Unquestionable integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to high professional standards
Preferred
Additional European languages are beneficial
Benefits
Discretionary bonus
Competitive benefits package
Company
Sotheby's
Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Mike Goss
CFO
Cynthia Houlton
Global Head of Demand Generation & Marketplace Luxury Division
Recent News
2025-12-30
2025-12-16
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