The Department of Sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor specializing in Foundry. The position begins August 2027, subject to final budgetary approval. Salary is competitive with peer institutions and commensurate with quality of practice, scholarship, academic research, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing of the candidate.

Compensation: $81,284 - $88,974 per year.

Benefits information for this position can be found linked below:

https://articbenguide.com/whos-eligible/

PROGRAM PROFILE

SAIC’s Department of Sculpture is one of the largest and most comprehensive programs of its kind in the country. The department is situated at the defining edge of contemporary practice and discourse with an integration of four curricular themes: objects, bodies, sites, and systems. Within these themes, the curriculum addresses sociopolitical and ecological imperatives of our times. Faculty in the department practice sculpture in the broadest sense, and that range is reflected in both the curriculum and facilities we offer. Students are encouraged to engage with a range of time-tested and experimental processes including but not limited to: casting bronze, organizing public spectacles, embodied practice, site-based projects, sustainable material recovery, and acting responsibly with whole earth systems. We are committed to studying sculpture within a culturally diverse context, both locally and internationally.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Full-time faculty in Foundry within the Department of Sculpture teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds within SAIC’s interdisciplinary art and design school environment. Faculty will teach Foundry courses at the basic, intermediate, and advanced levels across the undergraduate and graduate curricula. Faculty develop courses that draw on their research interests and areas of expertise, including conceptual approaches to sculpture, foundry techniques, advances in sculptural fabrication, and practices at the intersection of art and design.

In addition to teaching and advising, the successful candidate will provide leadership, oversight and coordination for the Foundry within the Department of Sculpture and across SAIC.

Responsibilities include:

Representing contemporary art practice in Foundry and contributing to the ongoing development of the department’s curricula, ensuring coursework builds and sustains student’s technical proficiency.
Supporting the Foundry through schoolwide and external communications, interdisciplinary collaborations with adjacent studio departments, and connections with other areas of the School such as admissions, alumni relations, academic advising, and Career and Professional Experience (CAPX).
Supervising and supporting other faculty working in and with the Foundry.
Collaborating with the Foundry staff on training sessions, safety protocols, foundry processes, and production timelines.
Reviewing and managing the Foundry budget in collaboration with the chair of the Department of Sculpture, Foundry staff, members of the Instructional Resources and Facilities Management team, and administration.
Providing oversight of Foundry events and initiatives, such as iron pours and student awards juries and ceremonies.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to undertake administrative responsibilities and take on department leadership which is shared over time and in the SAIC school-wide community through ongoing participation in shared governance, service, and assessment of student learning.

QUALIFICATIONS

An MFA or equivalent terminal degree is required. The ideal candidate will have at least three years of college-level teaching experience in sculpture or related fields, and demonstrated expertise in foundry processes, a sustained record of artistic achievement, evidenced by exhibitions, commissions, awards, residencies, or comparable professional recognition.

The successful candidate will be a practicing and versatile artist with expertise in contemporary approaches to sculpture. Within a department whose teaching specialties extend across a broad range of practices and environments, the department seeks artists who bring a broad understanding of the field alongside the technical skills necessary to support their professional production.

The ability to communicate effectively with students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels is essential. Candidates should demonstrate an interest in contributing to ongoing conversations about the evolution and future of sculpture, the department, and SAIC more broadly. The ideal candidate will make a significant contribution to the intellectual discourse and practices in the field and demonstrate the knowledge, versatility, and aptitude necessary to teach and mentor students from a variety of backgrounds.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants are encouraged to apply by Monday, January 4, 2027 for full consideration.

Please submit application materials via https://saicfaculty.slideroom.com/#/Login.

You will be asked to create an account after which you may complete the application, which consists of open-ended questions and required documents (see below). You are encouraged to begin the application well before the priority deadline.

Please ensure that you complete the fields for educational background; current position; and contact information for three professional references.

Please convert all Word documents into PDFs before uploading. Required files to upload include:

cover letter stating your interests and qualifications
curriculum vitae
statement of teaching philosophy including details on how your teaching has supported the success of students from a range of backgrounds
statement of research and/or practice
documentation of a selection of professional work
2 examples of course syllabi

All applicants for this position must complete and sign a Prior Workplace Conduct Declaration as part of their initial application materials in order to be considered as a candidate and sign a release authorizing SAIC to conduct a misconduct reference check should the candidate ultimately be selected as a finalist for the position.

QUESTIONS

Questions regarding the School and its open positions, application procedures, or the search process may be emailed to saicteach@saic.edu. Please consult www.saic.edu for information on the School and its programs, or https://www.saic.edu/about/work-at-saic for open positions and application procedures.

ABOUT SAIC

A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, SAIC offers undergraduate, graduate, and postbaccalaureate programs to students from across the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, the School is one of the largest and oldest private schools of art and design in the country with programs reflecting current practices in art. SAIC's educational philosophy is built upon a transdisciplinary approach to art and design that provides unparalleled opportunities for students to develop their creative and critical abilities with renowned faculty who are leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC's resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its Modern Wing, and numerous special collections and programming venues that provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances. The campus is located on Chicago’s magnificent lakefront amid the city’s cultural and architectural treasures.

Degree tracks include the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio; BFA with Emphasis in Art Education or Writing; BA degrees in Art History and Visual and Critical Studies; Master of Architecture; Master of Design (MDes) in Designed Objects; MFA in Fashion, Body, and Garment; MFA in Studio or Writing; MA degrees in Arts Administration; Art Education; Art History, Theory, and Criticism; Art Therapy; Teaching; Visual and Critical Studies; and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Art Institute of Chicago, including both the school and the museum, is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, visitors, faculty, and staff, and to ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based on an individual’s abilities and qualifications. The Art Institute of Chicago does not tolerate unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or former military status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, in its programs and activities, public accommodations or employment practices.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator Lakeview Building, 116 S. Michigan Ave., 12th floor, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.499.4165, title9@saic.edu

For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, see the Office for Civil Rights Discrimination for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 800.421.3481.

REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS

SAIC provides reasonable accommodations during the interview process for candidates with disabilities in adherence with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Should you need an accommodation to participate in an interview, please contact the Office of Faculty Affairs at facultyaffairs@saic.edu.

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