Department of Art
Associate or Full Professor of Art, Future Department Chair
The Department of Art at Rice University is seeking to hire a full-time senior level artist, filmmaker, or critical practitioner conversant in the many intersecting fields of contemporary art practice who will also serve as the next department chair for a term (renewable) of 3-5 years. As the next Department Chair, we are seeking an individual that has significant administrative experience, is strategic, inspirational, and visionary, with a broad-minded and interdisciplinary approach to contemporary art.
We are seeking a candidate with extensive experience and familiarity with many levels and avenues of public engagement with art, and with theoretical positions and ideas of art and aesthetics; an experimental mindset, and the desire to foster a creative environment in a diverse educational setting. Given that Rice students are predominantly double-majors, our program’s curriculum is in dialogue with other disciplines (such as engineering, creative writing, architecture, and biology), to a degree that might exceed other programs. We are looking for a candidate who can participate in the process of expanding and redefining an arts curriculum in this context. Rice has a small but growing Art Department in which mentoring of individual advanced students is a core part of a professor’s teaching experience. The Department consistently ranks in the top 5 in Niche despite its small size due to the high quality of art instruction and of mentoring.
A successful candidate will bring organizational and strategic thought leadership as future Departmental Chair; engaging and maintaining an active and ambitious program of research and creative scholarship; participating in student mentoring and advising; and serving on department and university committees. There is a reduced teaching load during term as Chair, to two classes per year (one fall semester and one spring semester). The department has recently occupied our new state of the art, DILLER SCOFIDIO + RENFRO building, Sarofim Hall.
For Visual Artists and Filmmakers: Candidates must hold an MFA in Studio Art, Film, Media Arts, or a related field. Required qualifications include a substantial record of national and international exhibitions or screenings, a deep grounding in the history, theory, practice, and criticism of contemporary art, exceptional organizational and collaborative skills, and a minimum of five years of undergraduate- or graduate-level teaching experience.
For Critical Practitioners: Candidates must hold a PhD in Art History, Visual Studies, Film and Media Studies, Curatorial Studies, or a related field. Required qualifications include a proven record of scholarly publication and service commensurate with career stage, along with at least five years of undergraduate- or graduate-level teaching experience.
Rice University is a liberal arts research university offering a visual arts curriculum in film and video production and studio arts (printmaking, painting, drawing, sculpture, performance, and digital as well as traditional photography). Rice University has approximately 4,800 graduate, undergraduate, and professional students with approximately 650 full- and part-time faculty. Rice is located in Houston, Texas, a culturally diverse metropolitan city with a strong visual and performing arts community. The department enjoys a talented and intellectually curious group of student majors on three academic concentrations, along with progressive academic offerings and collaborations with The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Menil Collection, Project Row Houses, the Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston Glassell School of Art Core Fellow Program, and many alternative art spaces and galleries.
Review of applications will begin immediately, continuing until the position is filled. For fullest consideration, application materials should be submitted by December 15, 2026 Appointment begins July 1, 2027.
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Candidates are also encouraged to address how their teaching, research, and service contribute to building an engaged, collaborative, and inclusive learning community.
Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.
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