Art Consultant / Senior Art Consultant

Established 50 years ago, Parnell Gallery is one of New Zealand’s longest standing dealer galleries, representing and exhibiting a diverse range of established contemporary New Zealand painters, sculptors, and printmakers. Over the years we have become known for bringing New Zealand art to the foreground, showcasing a curated collection of artworks housed within our beautiful heritage building located in Parnell.

We are seeking a highly motivated and organised individual to join our close-knit and friendly team.  While advertised as an Art Consultant /  Senior Art Consultant position, the level of responsibility within the role will be tailored to the experience and strengths of the successful candidate. 

 This integral position will work Monday to Friday, with approximately one rostered Saturday every three weeks. When working a Saturday, you will take a weekday off in lieu, so your hours remain consistent (NB/ Saturdays are shorter 6.5-hour days). The role will play a key part in art sales and contribute to the day-to-day operations of the gallery, working closely with the team across client experience and service, exhibitions and administration, along with some art handling and installation.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working with people, and who is eager to contribute to our thriving art community, working alongside talented artists and our wonderful clients and collectors.

As a client-facing gallery, we work in a busy environment where priorities can shift quickly and there are often multiple moving parts in a single day. We are looking for someone who is personable, adaptable and calm under pressure, with excellent communication skills and, equally importantly, the ability to listen and genuinely connect with people.

You will work closely with the team to support the gallery’s sales through your ability to speak knowledgeably and passionately about our artists and their work, while building genuine connections with clients and collectors.  Your passion for art, attention to detail, and strong organisational skills, combined with your proven ability to genuinely connect, listen, and engage will be invaluable in delivering an exceptional experience to our clients and artists alike.

This is a varied and hands-on role combining client-facing sales and relationship management with administrative, operational and logistical responsibilities.  This role would suit someone with previous gallery, account management or creative experience, combined with a strong track record of building positive relationships with clients and customers.

Bring your strengths to the role

We’re looking for someone who is confident working with clients and has a genuine passion for art. A flair for writing would be a wonderful bonus - we find that people who can communicate thoughtfully and engagingly in writing often bring those same skills to their conversations with clients. While writing is not a required part of this role, if it is a skill you have there is an opportunity to contribute to artist profiles, artwork descriptions and other gallery communications.

Our Art Consultants each have a particular area of focus alongside their work with clients, giving them the opportunity to develop skills and contribute to projects they are passionate about. This might be writing, photography & image editing, digital and social media, administration, curation or another area where you have a particular interest or strength.

We’re a small team, so there is plenty of scope to learn, take on new challenges and develop your role over time. We’d love to find someone who is curious, capable and keen to bring their own skills and interests to the gallery.

Previous team members comments on working at Parnell Gallery

To provide an authentic perspective on our team, we approached a couple of our recent team members, to share her feedback on her experience working with us. 

Art Consultant Feedback:

“The time I spent at Parnell Gallery has had a significant influence on what I expect from employers moving forward. Anna, Sally and the team foster a creative environment based on trust, respect, and transparency where questions, curiosity, and development are embraced in every domain. I can’t overstate how instrumental the impact of this culture has had upon my professional development and approach to work; what I once considered personal flaws (i.e., attention to detail), I now take as opportunities to nurture into strengths. I am so proud to be connected to Parnell Gallery and the opportunities my time there continues to provide.”

Gallery Assistant Feedback:

"Parnell Gallery has been my introduction into the art world, and has really allowed me to learn and expand my skills and knowledge about how the art sector works. The gallery's warm, inviting atmosphere, along with its inspiring staff, has been instrumental in my growth. Learning from each staff member, with their diverse skill sets, has been particularly motivating. This experience has strengthened my administration, communication, and artwork handling abilities. From supporting the Gallery Manager / Art Consultants, to assisting with exhibition installations and deinstallations, each day is dynamic and creative."