Summer-Fall Photographs Internship

PRIMARY FUNCTION 

PAID Summer-Fall  INTERNSHIP – Phillips is currently seeking a motivated, detail-oriented individual who works well in a deadline-driven environment for our internship with a 4 day per week, 9am-6pm schedule in the Photographs department.  The role is to begin July 15, 2025, ending on December 12 , 2025. The deadline to apply is May 1st, 2025.

Based in our New York Headquarters at 432 Park Avenue, this role is ideal for a candidate looking for a long-term career in the auction world, and who is interested in research in a fast-paced environment. Interns will be trained in Phillips' systems and research procedures to directly contribute to the department.

Successful applicants will benefit from this unique opportunity for professional development through hands-on experience in the art industry. Phillips values a workforce with a wide variety of experiences, backgrounds and skills, so we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the qualifications.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Intern will primarily assist the department in the following ways:

·        Work with Cataloguer daily on research for specific works of art to prepare them for sale

·        Visit local libraries for department research

·        Compile data into appraisals and proposals to assist with business-getting

·        Help Administrator prepare client-facing documents during the pre-sale process

The Intern will additionally have the opportunity to:

·        Participate in auction-day roles for sales across all departments

·        Record sale results for Phillips sales and our competitors

·        Assist with ad-hoc research projects and auction-related tasks

The Intern will benefit from the following enrichment experiences:

·        Tour Phillips’ Long Island City warehouse and shadow Cataloguer during artwork inspection at the beginning of the internship

·        One to two gallery and/or museum visits with members of our department

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

·        The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of Photographs and Modern & Contemporary art. They should have excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to deal effectively and efficiently with multiple tasks while working to meet strict deadlines.

                ·        Experience with on-site research at libraries and/or archives.

                ·        Previous relevant experience and/or education preferred.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING  

                ·        College graduates with a Bachelor’s degree, or current students with full-time, in-person availability.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES 

·        Passionate interest in Photographs and/or Modern & Contemporary Art and interest in pursuing a career within an auction house

·        Strong verbal and written communication skills

·        Attentive to detail

·        Process oriented

·        Enjoys working with others towards a common goal

·        Willingness and desire to learn and ask questions
·        Strong work ethic with effective time management; ability to multi-task, take initiative and work well independently

WORKING CONDITIONS

·        Work is undertaken primarily within an office environment in our New York location and offsite spaces for research such as libraries.

·        Interns will visit local libraries – this task will involve taking the subway or bus to the New York Public Library, the MET Library, and the MoMA Library, amongst others.

·        Ability to work evenings and weekends as necessary.

ADDITIONAL INFO

·        The hourly pay for the role is $16.50 per hour.

·        Only candidates who can work an in-person schedule of 4 days per week, Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, will be considered for this internship. (Please note: specific days to be mutually agreed upon based on the successful candidate’s schedule)