APAP Career Center

Position Title

Assistant Professor/Associate Professor of Visual Arts (tenure-track/tenured)

Field of Specialization

Painting and Drawing

The Visual Arts Program in the School of the Arts at Columbia University invites applications for a position at the rank of Assistant Professor/Associate Professor of Visual Arts (tenure-track/tenured) specializing in painting and drawing, effective July 1, 2026.  

The successful candidate will be innovative and passionate and have a significant exhibition record and advanced technical skills grounded in the history of their respective mediums and possess strong leadership qualities. Appointees must have a thorough knowledge of contemporary art discourse and a demonstrated ability to mentor and engage critically with our diverse student population regardless of medium. A minimum of three years teaching experience at both the undergraduate and graduate level, full-time or adjunct, strongly preferred. 

The Visual Arts Program

Columbia’s Visual Arts Program is interdisciplinary and fosters rich creative work at both the graduate and undergraduate levels in the areas of moving image, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and expanded practice. The Visual Arts Program, in collaboration with the Department of Music and the Computer Music Center, also offers a course of study in the discipline of sound art which leads to a Master of Fine Art degree in visual arts. And the Program offers undergraduate studio classes in the six areas mentioned, enrolling over 700 students each school year. 

Responsibilities

The appointee will teach graduate students across all mediums as well as undergraduate studio courses in painting and drawing, advise students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, lead critiques, oversee master's theses, and mentor postgraduate planning. The full-time teaching load consists of four classes each school year. Participation is required in rotating service and leadership roles as well. A fully engaged presence on campus is expected with a willingness to collaborate with peers to help shape the future of the Visual Arts Program at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Candidates for Assistant Professor/Associate Professor (tenure-track) must have demonstrated and show promise of the capacity for creative work and the accompanying pedagogy qualifying them for future nomination to tenure.

Candidates with the rank of Associate Professor must have a demonstrated record of professional and teaching achievement and show great promise of attaining distinction in their fields of specialization. 

Rank and salary commensurate with experience.

Minimum degree required: BA or equivalent

Preferred degree: Master of Fine Arts or equivalent

Teaching experience: Minimum of three years teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level strongly 

All applications must be made through Columbia University?s Academic Search and Recruiting (ASR) system. Please upload the following required materials: cover letter, CV, teaching philosophy, contact information for three referees, and samples of your work, provide through a word or PDF document with a live URL link to a website with a minimum of 15 work sample images (No slideshows or PowerPoints accepted).

Review of applications will begin December 15, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training.  The above hiring range represents the University?s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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