Archivist

Job Title: Archivist

Location: Mumbai

Reporting To: Head of Department (Sales)

Company Description

Founded in 1982 in New York and revived in New Delhi in 1997, Nature Morte is a leading commercial gallery specializing in experimental and conceptual forms of contemporary art. Known for representing internationally renowned and emerging Indian artists, the gallery plays a pivotal role in fostering innovative art practices. With two prominent exhibition spaces in New Delhi and a permanent gallery in Mumbai, Nature Morte also introduces international artists to Indias art scene. The gallery has a rich history of operating spaces in various global locations and is co-directed by Aparajita Jain and Peter Nagy.

Nature Morte Manifesto: We expect prospective employees to abide by the NM Manifesto of

Integrity, Accountability and Transparency. These are our non-negotiables and serves as a prerequisite for a successful career at Nature Morte.

Integrity: Our true north. We value honesty, dedication, and a consistent commitment to our core values.

Accountability: We act consistently across situations and people. Nothing is not my work and we go above and beyond to ensure quality and impact

Transparency: We communicate transparently, especially when stakes are high and act consistently across situations and people

Role Overview

The Archivist will be responsible for ensuring that all artworkspaintings, sculptures, and other mediaare stored, handled, and preserved according to international standards. The role involves applying appropriate archiving techniques based on the material, age, and fragility of each artwork. This includes managing environmental conditions, storage systems, condition reporting, and developing long-term preservation protocols.

Key Responsibilities Areas

1. Art Storage & Preservation

• Ensure that all artworks are stored in pristine, secure, and climate-appropriate conditions.
• Monitor and control environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, lighting, and dust to maintain ideal storage conditions.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and catalogued physical storage area.
• Oversee safe packaging, handling, transportation, and installation/deinstallation of artworks.

2. Archival Techniques & Scientific Preservation

• Identify and apply suitable conservation and archiving techniques for various types of materials (canvas, paper, metal, wood, mixed media, etc.).
• Consult with art conservators when needed to develop preventive conservation strategies.
• Maintain condition reports for all artworks and update them periodically.
• Research and implement best practices for long-term storage and documentation based on global museological standards.

3. Documentation & Inventory Management

• Maintain a meticulous digital and physical record of all artworks, including photographs, condition reports, materials used, storage details, and movement history.
• Collaborate with the inventory and artist liaison teams to ensure artworks are accurately logged, accessible, and trackable.
• Prepare documentation required for loans, insurance, shipping, and customs clearance.

4. Safety & Risk Management

• Develop and implement emergency response plans for artwork safety (fire, water damage, pests, power outage, etc.).
• Regularly inspect the storage space and individual artworks for any signs of deterioration or damage.
• Recommend and procure archival supplies (acid-free boxes, protective films, mountings, etc.) as needed.

5. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the curatorial, installation, and operations teams to plan safe movement and display of artworks.
• Support external exhibitions, museum loans, and art fair logistics by ensuring archival and condition standards are upheld.

Goals of the role:

• Ensure flawless preservation and storage standards
• Maintain pristine environmental conditions and preventive care systems that protect every artwork with scientific precision and global best practices treating each piece as irreplaceable.
• Build operational rigor in documentation and tracking
• Establish consistent, error-free documentation and inventory protocols that make the movement, condition, and location of every artwork transparent, auditable, and instantly accessible.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Art Conservation, Museum Studies, Archival Science, Art History, or a related field.
• 2-3 years of experience working in an archive, museum, conservation lab, or art gallery.
• Strong understanding of preventive conservation, storage materials, and scientific archiving methods.
• Familiarity with digital inventory systems and condition documentation protocols.
• Exceptional organizational and record-keeping skills.
• A deep respect for the integrity of artworks and artistic processes.