Head of Art Sales & Exhibitions

Job Description: Head of Art Sales & Exhibitions

Organization: Tashkeel
Job Type: Full-time
Location: Nad Al Sheba 1, Dubai, UAE

Salary: Competitive base salary based on experience, alongside a performance-based incentive structure tied to exhibition and artwork sales targets. Once agreed sales targets are achieved, a percentage of profits from confirmed sales generated by the candidate will be allocated accordingly.

Role Overview

Tashkeel is seeking an experienced, commercially driven, and culturally engaged Art Sales, Exhibitions & Collections Manager to lead the organization’s exhibitions, art sales strategy, collector relations, and artwork management operations.

This role requires a highly resourceful individual with a minimum of seven years of experience within commercial galleries, art advisory, auction houses, art fairs, or cultural institutions with a strong commercial focus. The successful candidate must possess a deep understanding of contemporary art and design alongside proven experience in sales, client development, exhibition management, and collections administration.

The role sits at the intersection of culture and commerce. The candidate will oversee the planning and delivery of exhibitions while actively driving revenue generation through artwork and design sales, relationship management, partnerships, and collector engagement. The role also requires close collaboration with artists, designers, curators, consultants, collectors, interior designers, corporate clients, and cultural stakeholders both locally and internationally.

Alongside exhibitions and sales, the Art Sales, Exhibitions & Collections Manager will oversee artwork inventory systems, consignment management, collection tracking, pricing coordination, and artwork logistics while ensuring the highest standards of professionalism, intellectual presentation, and operational organization.

This role is designed for an individual who is both culturally engaged and commercially motivated. The position includes performance-based incentives tied to successful sales generation, collector development, and commercial growth.

The role also includes oversight and coordination of Tashkeel’s artist development initiatives, including residency and mentorship-based programmes, ensuring all programme outcomes, publications, exhibitions, and public engagement initiatives are delivered to the highest standard.

This is a senior position suited to an individual who understands how to build long-term cultural and commercial value within the UAE’s growing creative economy.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Sales & Collector Relations

• Lead visual art and design sales across exhibitions, fairs, private viewings, and client outreach initiatives.
• Develop and expand Tashkeel’s collector, client, consultant, and corporate database.
• Cultivate relationships with collectors, interior designers, architects, curators, hospitality groups, developers, and cultural institutions.
• Work closely with the Tashkeel Consultant and leadership team on sales strategies and commercial growth opportunities.
• Develop sales forecasts, pricing strategies, and revenue targets for exhibitions and projects.
• Coordinate artwork sales, invoicing processes, certificates of authenticity, and artwork deliveries.
• Identify and pursue partnerships, commissions, sponsorships, and acquisition opportunities.
• Strengthen Tashkeel’s presence within the regional and international art market.

Exhibitions & Programming

• Manage the planning and delivery of all exhibitions onsite and offsite, subject to Director approval.
• Oversee exhibition scheduling, budgeting, logistics, installation, deinstallation, and artwork transportation.
• Coordinate exhibition production timelines with artists, fabricators, installers, and fine art handlers.
• Work closely with artists and designers on artwork production and presentation.
• Develop exhibition activation programmes including talks, guided tours, workshops, collector events, and public programming.
• Manage applications and participation in art fairs and related cultural platforms.
• Maintain high standards of curatorial presentation, exhibition storytelling, and visitor experience.

Collections & Artwork Management

• Maintain full inventory control of artworks under Tashkeel’s management including consignments, owned works, editions, and commissioned projects.
• Oversee artwork database systems, pricing records, condition reporting, and artwork documentation.
• Ensure all artwork movements, consignments, and returns are properly documented and signed.
• Coordinate storage, packing, transportation, and artwork handling procedures.
• Work closely with the administrative and accounts teams to maintain accurate records and reporting.

Publications, Writing & Communications

• Lead exhibition key messaging and interpretive content development.
• Oversee exhibition texts, wall texts, catalogues, price lists, and written curatorial material.
• Support the marketing team with press releases, PR toolkits, website content, and social media direction relating to exhibitions and sales.
• Proofread and ensure consistency across all exhibition communications and publications.
• Coordinate with designers, translators, printers, and production teams to ensure timely delivery of all exhibition collateral.

Artist Development & Programmes

• Support and monitor the delivery of Tashkeel’s residency and mentorship programmes including Critical Practice and artist development initiatives.
• Coordinate programme scheduling, artist onboarding, agreements, mentorship logistics, and exhibition outcomes.
• Work closely with artists, mentors, consultants, and the wider Tashkeel team to ensure programme success.
• Contribute to strengthening Tashkeel’s role in supporting contemporary art and design practice in the UAE.

Team Collaboration & Operations

• Work closely with the Director, General Manager, marketing team, consultants, and wider Tashkeel departments.
• Contribute to strategic planning relating to exhibitions, sales, partnerships, and audience development.
• Produce presentations, reports, and sales summaries when required.
• Support broader organizational initiatives and special projects where necessary.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum 7 years of experience in commercial galleries, art advisory, auction houses, art fairs, or contemporary cultural institutions.
• Proven experience in artwork sales, collector relations, and commercial client development.
• Strong understanding of contemporary art and design within the UAE and international context.
• Experience managing exhibitions from concept through installation and sales.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills with experience managing artwork inventories and collections.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Exceptional writing and proofreading abilities with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a fast-paced environment.
• Strong project management and multitasking abilities.
• Confident managing high-profile clients, artists, and stakeholders.
• Professional presentation and ability to represent Tashkeel publicly.
• Valid UAE driving license preferred.

Desirable Requirements

• Spoken and written Arabic.
• Existing relationships within the UAE and GCC art ecosystem.
• Experience with Artlogic or comparable gallery management systems.
• Experience with art fairs, collector events, and institutional partnerships.
• Knowledge of artwork handling, logistics, and collection management standards.

About Tashkeel

Tashkeel is a UAE-based art and design studio, consultancy, and cultural organization founded in Dubai in 2008 by Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Rooted in the United Arab Emirates, Tashkeel supports contemporary creative practice through exhibitions, residencies, training programmes, workshops, publications, mentorship initiatives, fabrication facilities, and consultancy services.

Tashkeel works across contemporary art, design, public art, manufacturing, and cultural development while supporting artists and designers through platforms such as Tanween, Critical Practice, residencies, exhibitions, and collaborative commissions.

Its facilities and programmes enable experimentation, production, dialogue, and professional development while contributing to the UAE’s growing creative and cultural industries.

Visit: tashkeel.org | make.works

Pay: AED10,000.00 - AED16,000.00 per month

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Dubai: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Application Question(s):

• Do you have experience in curating exhibitions?
• Do you have experience coordinating with artists ?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Gallery Sales: 5 years (Required)
• Gallery Manager: 5 years (Required)

Language:

• Arabic and English (Required)

Work Location: In person