Open-Rank Professor of Art History | NYU Abu Dhabi

Job Description

The Division of Arts and Humanities at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured, open-rank Professor of Art History specialising in Modern and Contemporary Arab Art History for the 2027–28 academic year.

NYUAD is seeking a distinguished scholar whose research and teaching focus on the visual arts of the Middle East and North Africa, with a commitment to innovative scholarship that engages cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives.

The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching, student supervision, interdisciplinary collaboration, the Core Curriculum, research, and university service.

Employer: NYU Abu Dhabi
Division: Arts and Humanities
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Position: Professor of Art History – Open Rank
Appointment: Tenure-Track / Tenured
Specialisation: Modern and Contemporary Arab Art History
Academic Year: 2027–28

Art History Professor Abu Dhabi – Position Overview

The successful candidate will develop an active programme of research and teaching focused on the visual arts of the Middle East and North Africa, particularly modern and contemporary Arab art.

The role includes:

• Undergraduate teaching.
• Graduate teaching.
• Academic advising.
• BA, MA, and PhD supervision.
• Research and publication.
• Core Curriculum teaching.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration.
• University service.
• Engagement with museums, archives, and cultural institutions.

Research Areas

NYU Abu Dhabi welcomes candidates with research expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Modern and contemporary Arab art.
• Arab visual culture.
• Global modernisms.
• Cross-cultural artistic exchange.
• Postcolonial and decolonial art histories.
• Museum and curatorial studies.
• Cultural heritage and identity formation.
• Transnational art movements.

Modern and Contemporary Arab Art

The position has a particular focus on scholars whose work advances understanding of:

• Modern Arab art.
• Contemporary Arab art.
• Visual cultures of the Arab world.
• Artistic production across the Middle East and North Africa.

Cross-Cultural and Interdisciplinary Scholarship

Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to research that is open to:

• Cross-disciplinary perspectives.
• Cross-cultural approaches.
• Global comparative frameworks.

The successful candidate will have opportunities to collaborate with other programmes within the Arts and Humanities Division and across other divisions at NYU Abu Dhabi.

Interdisciplinary Programmes

The successful candidate may contribute to interdisciplinary programmes including:

• Middle East Studies.
• Global Studies.
• Curatorial Studies.
• Public Humanities.

Teaching Responsibilities

The successful candidate will teach at:

• Undergraduate level.
• Graduate level.

Responsibilities also include:

• Teaching within the Art History programme.
• Teaching in the Core Curriculum.
• Advising students.
• Supporting interdisciplinary academic programmes.

Graduate and Undergraduate Supervision

The role requires expertise suitable for supervising:

• BA students.
• MA students.
• PhD students.

Candidates should be able to support students through advanced research and scholarly development.

Research and Publication

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Maintain an active research programme.
• Publish scholarly work.
• Contribute to the international development of the field.
• Engage in interdisciplinary research.

An established international publication record is particularly relevant to the position.

Museum and Cultural Institution Collaboration

Faculty members will be expected to foster collaborations with:

• Museums.
• Archives.
• Cultural institutions.

Experience in museum, curatorial, or exhibition settings is preferred.

Required Qualification

Applicants must hold a:

• PhD in Art History, Humanities, Middle East Studies, or a closely related field.

Required Scholarly Experience

Applicants should demonstrate:

• A record of scholarly publications.
• Successful university-level teaching.
• Expertise in modern and contemporary art of the Arab world.

Preferred Museum and Curatorial Experience

Preferred experience includes:

• Museum work.
• Curatorial work.
• Exhibition experience.

Preferred Research Funding Experience

Experience in:

• Securing external grants.
• Securing research funding.

is preferred.

Interdisciplinary Teaching

Candidates with the ability to teach courses connecting:

• Art History.
• Cultural Studies.
• Cross-cultural scholarship.

are preferred.

Arabic Language and Cultural Knowledge

Knowledge of:

• Arabic language.
• Arab culture.

is preferred.

Service Responsibilities

The successful candidate will participate in:

• Departmental service.
• University service.
• Academic committees.
• Wider institutional activities.

About NYU Abu Dhabi

NYU Abu Dhabi is a comprehensive liberal arts and research campus of New York University in the Middle East.

The University combines undergraduate education across multiple disciplines with advanced research and scholarship and brings together students and faculty from a highly international academic community.

NYU Abu Dhabi supports multidisciplinary research and teaching across:

• Arts.
• Humanities.
• Social Sciences.
• Sciences.
• Engineering.

Working at NYU Abu Dhabi

NYUAD offers a benefits package designed to support faculty and academic staff, including:

• Relocation allowance.
• Educational assistance for dependents.
• Access to health and wellness services.
• Support for research projects.
• Support for innovative teaching.
• Support for dual-career families.

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit the following through Interfolio:

• Cover letter.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Research statement.
• Teaching statement.
• Sample publications.
• Contact information for three references.

Applications are not accepted by email.

Application Review and Start Date

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, beginning immediately.

Shortlisted candidates are expected to be invited for campus visits in Abu Dhabi in Fall 2026.

The anticipated appointment and relocation period is the 2027–28 academic year, subject to final budget approval.

Equal Opportunity

NYU Abu Dhabi welcomes applications from qualified candidates and seeks scholars who will contribute to its multidisciplinary research and teaching community.

In line with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are encouraged to apply.

Job Summary

Employer	NYU Abu Dhabi
Division	Arts and Humanities
Location	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Position	Professor of Art History – Open Rank
Appointment Type	Tenure-Track / Tenured
Specialisation	Modern and Contemporary Arab Art History
Academic Year	2027–28
Required Qualification	PhD in Art History, Humanities, Middle East Studies, or closely related field
Required Expertise	Modern and contemporary art of the Arab world
Research Requirement	Demonstrated scholarly publication record and active research programme
Teaching Requirement	Successful university-level teaching
Supervision	BA, MA, and PhD students
Research Areas	Arab Art, Visual Culture, Global Modernisms, Postcolonial/Decolonial Art History, Curatorial Studies, Cultural Heritage, Transnational Art
Preferred Experience	Museum, curatorial or exhibition experience; external research funding
Preferred Language/Cultural Knowledge	Arabic language and culture
Core Responsibilities	Teaching, advising, supervision, research, interdisciplinary collaboration, Core Curriculum and university service
Application Platform	Interfolio
Application Materials	Cover letter, CV, research statement, teaching statement, sample publications, three references
Review Process	Rolling review
Anticipated Start	Academic Year 2027–28, subject to final budget approval
Application Deadline	Not stated