Apply on Employer Site

Sotheby's · 15 hours ago

Senior Exhibition Designer

New York, United States

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

$80K/yr - $100K/yr

Sotheby's is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury, promoting access to exceptional art through various channels. The Senior Exhibition Designer will be responsible for the creative development and execution of exhibition designs, ensuring engaging visitor experiences in collaboration with internal teams and external partners.

ArtCollectiblesEventsRetail

Responsibilities

Collaborate closely with the in-house Exhibition team in New York and other senior leads to create building activations that bring to life Sotheby’s major sale series campaigns for fine art and luxury categories, as well as key standalone sale events, including single-owner auctions and brand partnerships

Develop full exhibition design concepts, including 2D and 3D design work, conceptual ideas, technical drawings, renderings, elevations, and detailed

Provide creative direction and oversee design tasks delegated to other team members, ensuring alignment with project vision and standards

Assist in the completion of comprehensive design packs to support smooth project delivery

Organise and lead design kick-off meetings with specialists and other departments to align on scope, requirements, and deliverables

See multiple projects through from initial brief to final installation, collaborating with department leads, art directors, and marketing partners

Present designs and ideas to a wide range of stakeholders, including senior management, and define creative direction in collaboration with specialist

Work jointly with Sotheby’s Operations team, in-house colleagues and external vendors to estimate projects ensuring adherence to budgets and work in collaboration with the exhibition design manager to manage the contracts with relevant suppliers

Approve technical specifications, construction methodologies, and oversee installation planning to ensure feasibility, quality, and timely

Maintain regular collaboration with the London Exhibition Design studio to implement evolving layouts and visual displays across auction, retail, and Buy Now locations

Extend Sotheby’s premium aesthetic across all client-facing spaces and elements, including lobby, reception, wayfinding, signage (print and digital), and other enhancements that impactfully communicate key building activities

Oversee the design of Sotheby’s salesrooms for select auctions, including room layout, elevations, build-outs, furniture, artwork placement, and finishing details such as vinyls and florals

Ensure adherence to exhibition process and design guidelines, maintaining a meticulous archive and record of work through project management

Qualification

Exhibition designAdobe Creative SuiteSpatial designCollaboration skillsProject managementCommunication skillsOrganizational skillsAttention to detail

Required

Broad experience in exhibition design and production, ideally across museums, design studios, spatial design, trade shows, or retail pop-ups, with a strong understanding of built environments and the use of space

Strong collaboration skills with a positive, adaptable, and flexible approach that supports productive working relationships across teams

A confident grasp of typography and an awareness of current design trends in exhibition and digital media

Proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Vectorworks, SketchUp, Rhino and CAD tools

Clear and confident communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present ideas effectively to a variety of stakeholders

High levels of motivation, organization, proactivity, and attention to detail

The ability to balance and manage multiple projects at once while maintaining a strong focus on quality and detail