Temporary Exhibition Painter

Summary

Help Bring World-Class Exhibitions to Life

The Museum is seeking a skilled Temporary Exhibition Painter for a six-month assignment to play a key role in creating the visual environments that support exhibitions and visitor experiences. This hands-on position is responsible for preparing, painting, finishing, and maintaining exhibition casework, gallery walls, architectural elements, and museum fixtures to the highest standards of quality and presentation.

Working both independently and collaboratively, the Exhibition Painter will operate professional spray-painting equipment, perform surface preparation and repairs, mix and match colors, and apply a variety of coatings that enhance and protect exhibition spaces. This role also supports gallery installations by assisting with material handling, maintaining painting equipment, tracking paint specifications, and ensuring all work is completed safely and efficiently.

Ideal candidates will bring several years of commercial or residential painting experience, strong attention to detail, excellent craftsmanship, and the ability to work comfortably on ladders, lifts, and scaffolding. Experience with spray-finishing techniques is essential, while carpentry skills are a valuable addition.

This is an excellent opportunity for a talented painter who takes pride in precision, enjoys creating beautiful environments, and wants to contribute to the presentation of exceptional exhibitions and collections.

Details

Responsibilities:

• Main responsibility is to operate spray painting equipment to paint and apply other coatings to manufactured items such as display casework for exhibitions, trim work and other museum fixtures
• Applies coats of paint, varnish, stain, or lacquer to decorate and protect interior or exterior surfaces, using brushes and rollers
• Reads work order or receives instructions from supervisor regarding painting.
• Smoothens surfaces, using sandpaper, brushes, or steel wool, and removes old paint from surfaces, using paint remover, scraper, wire brush, or blowtorch to prepare surfaces for painting
• Fills nail holes, cracks, and joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other filler, using caulking gun and putty knife.
• Selects premixed paints, or mixes required portions of pigment, oil, and thinning and drying substances to prepare paint that matches specified colors. Erects scaffolding or sets up ladders to perform tasks above ground
• Clean up and store paint and painting tools and equipment in appropriate areas and perform maintenance to all spray painting equipment
• Follow all company and safety and security policies and procedures; report maintenance problems, safety hazards, accidents or injuries; and complete safety training and certifications
• Makes recommendations on equipment and tool needs
• Assists with loading, unloading and separation of supplies
• Keeps accurate records of paint colors used in each gallery
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Ability to reach overhead and below the knees, including bending, twisting, pulling and stooping, and to frequently move up and down a ladder
• Manuel dexterity required, and the ability to grasp, turn and manipulate objects of varying size and weight
• Must be able to move, lift, carry, push, pull and place objects weighing less than or equal to 75 pounds without assistance
• Ability to stand, sit or walk for an extended period of time
• Ability to follow verbal and/or written instructions and work with minimal supervision
• Ability to work at elevated heights, e.g., on scaffolds and/or lifts
• Ability to use hand and power tools
• Ability to withstand exposure to noise, heights and adverse weather and temperature conditions
• Ability to exercise judgment in accordance with established procedures
• Must be able to handle wall repair and painting in all gallery spaces
• Must have a valid Texas drivers license

Education and Experience:

• Three to five years of experience as a commercial or residential spray painter
• Carpentry skills a plus
• High school diploma OR an equivalent combination of experience and education from which comparable and demonstrable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Classification                            Non-Exempt – Hourly

Work Schedule                         Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm

Term                                         Temporary Assignment – Six (6) month term[1]

Location                                    Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

More About The Organization:

The MFAH is an organization comprised of 600+ employees and 1,000+ docents and volunteers. The museum is more than 100 years old and ranks nationally among the top 10 art museums in exhibition space, memberships, endowments, and attendance, with 1M visitors annually. Our multifaceted institution includes multiple gallery buildings, a sculpture garden, two art schools, three eateries and two house museums for decorative arts. The encyclopedic collection numbers more than 70,000 works of art in a wide range of media.

Equal Opportunities for All

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) is committed to attracting and retaining talented individuals who can contribute meaningfully to our mission and organizational excellence. We welcome all applicants whose skills, experience, and perspectives prepare them to succeed in this role and support the Museum’s work in serving a broad public.

MFAH is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, and without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We are committed to fair and consistent employment practices and to maintaining a professional, respectful workplace for all employees.

We recognize that no candidate meets every qualification listed in a job description. If your background and experience align with many of the responsibilities and requirements of this position, we encourage you to apply.

MFAH is committed to ensuring equal access to employment opportunities. Qualified individuals with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application process, interview process, perform essential job functions, and access the benefits and all other privileges of employment. Requests for reasonable accommodation may be directed to the Human Resources Department at HR@mfah.org

Compensation:

The MFAH schedules pay bi-weekly.  The hourly pay rate for this temporary assignment will be commensurate with the applicant's experience and the needs and requirements expressed in the job description.  The MFAH has set the pay range for this job and level as a general guideline and not a guarantee of the compensation amount or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, the needs and requirements expressed in the job description, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, and any related regulations or other laws.

[1] This assignment is expected to last six (6) months.  As a temporary assignment, there is no guarantee of future or continued employment beyond the expected term.  With that said, there may be an opportunity for extension if operationally needed and mutually agreed.