ABOUT MASTERWORKS:

Masterworks is a fintech platform that allows anyone to invest in SEC-qualified shares of multi-million dollar paintings by names like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso. In just three short years, we have built a portfolio of nearly $700 million in world-class artworks, introducing over 575,000 individuals to the $1.7 trillion art market. 

Masterworks has been covered by major media publications such as The New York Times, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, and the Financial Times, and was recently recognized as one of the Top 50 Startups in the US by LinkedIn. 

In 2021, Masterworks achieved unicorn status raising $110M in its Series A fundraising round at a valuation exceeding $1 billion. 

Our 180+ employees are based out of our offices at Brookfield Place in the Financial District of New York City. With an entirely in-office team, there are endless opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and learning.

WHY MASTERWORKS?

• Do you thrive on disruption?
• Do you want to live at the cutting edge of finance, technology, and art? 
• Are you passionate about democratizing alternative investments? 
• Do you enjoy meaningful work that has a noticeable impact on business performance?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above, we'd love to hear from you!

POSITION OVERVIEW:

​​Masterworks is the largest buyer of Post War and Contemporary art in the art market and plans to acquire up to $700 million in artwork this year. We are looking for a New York-based Senior Specialist in Post War and Contemporary Art to assist in those efforts, advising on, sourcing and managing acquisitions through auction for our growing portfolio. Our ideal candidate has a deep familiarity working with blue-chip art.

Please note: PAST EXPERIENCE AT AUCTION HOUSE OR GALLERY IS REQUIRED

Operations include:

• Maximizing existing relationships at the leading auction houses (Christie's, Sotheby's, Phillips) to generate consistent deal flow across New York, London and Hong Kong
• Negotiating for prospective acquisitions on behalf of the company through private sales with auction houses
• Negotiating for and bidding on prospective acquisitions on behalf of the company, including structuring third party guarantees
• Looking ahead to extremely busy auction cycles, implementing a process around organizing due diligence for target artworks to quickly and accurately understands investment potential, condition, and pricing
• Proactively generating new business opportunities and deepening existing relationships, especially with regional auction houses in Europe and Asia.
• Contributing market intelligence to routine pricing sessions and quarterly appraisals
• Attending auctions and exhibitions, obtaining competitive intelligence and information about available artworks
• Assessing condition reports for prospective acquisitions and inspecting works in person
• Tracking sales and proactively gathering auction intelligence across all global regions

POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OVERVIEW:

In the first month you will be responsible for:

• Familiarizing yourself with Masterworks pitch, tools and processes
• Sourcing dozens of works for the team to research for potential acquisitions
• Successfully completing at least one private acquisition for the company
• Getting fully up to speed on Masterworks' acquisitions criteria and target artist list
• Engaging in regular client development meetings and work with the Acquisitions team to build appropriate strategies around key clients
• Developing a working knowledge of Masterworks' collection of 200+ paintings

REQUIREMENTS OR SKILL SETS:

• 5+ YEARS AT A LEADING GALLERY OR AUCTION HOUSE or as an independent art advisor
• Advanced knowledge of auction economics, bonus if you've worked on special deal structuring  (fees, bidding structures/increments, deal types, etc)
• Advanced knowledge of Post-War and Contemporary Art
• Experience with negotiations and pricing for high value artworks
• Ability to maintain composure under pressure and execute against deadlines
• Team player, proactive, highly organized and attentive to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to travel (local and international) and to work across global time zones during auction seasons
• Advanced excel skills, a plus

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be eligible for full-time US work - no exceptions.
• Must be able to work from our NY office

BENEFITS AT MASTERWORKS:

• Daily catered lunches
• Free admission to art museums and galleries
• Health, dental, and vision coverage with FSA options
• PTO and 401k
• Discounted Equinox membership
• Happy hours, company outings, social clubs, and more!

HOW DOES MASTERWORKS THINK ABOUT COMPENSATION?

The compensation range for the role is $100-150k (inclusive only of base salary, and exclusive of other potential competitive benefits such as on-target commission, bonus payments, and equity). Our ranges are very broad to accommodate all types of candidates and encourage growth. Specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on factors such as education, experience, qualifications, and alignment with market data. Exceptional candidates may receive salaries outside of the posted ranges.