Art Historian - Tasks and specialisations
Toi Tumu Kōrero
Tasks & duties
Art historians may do some or all of the following:
- research a wide variety of sources to become specialists on particular artists or periods of art
- write up and publish research
- decide what artworks should be bought, added to a collection or displayed in an exhibition
- lecture in art history at tertiary institutes or secondary schools
- provide advice about art to individual clients, museums, galleries and auction houses
- provide advice to organisations about historic sites, buildings and monuments
- advise legal firms on copyright issues
- research pictures for publishers.
James Blackie with an artwork he chose for an exhibition
Specialisations
Art historians generally develop expertise in the art of a specific region, period or medium. They often specialise in the work of a particular artist or group of artists.
Updated
June 2009
