Fall Modern & Contemporary Art Internship, Paris

PRIMARY FUNCTION

Phillips is currently seeking organised and motivated individuals to fill a fixed-term 4-month Internship in the Modern & Contemporary Art department. This role will begin in September 2026 to January 2, 2027. The deadline to apply is Thursday, August 6th at Based in our Paris office on Rue du Cirque, the primary focus of the internship will be to support the MCA department with their upcoming auctions, and to gain an insight into the day-to-day operations of a successful international auction house. The internship is particularly suitable for applicants with a strong interest in Modern and Contemporary Art.

The intern will assist in carrying out a range of tasks to support the successful delivery of auctions within the department, including provenance, art historical research and art market research, assisting with proposals, valuations and general administration. In addition, the intern will provide support to the General Manager, assisting with shipping coordination for outgoing and incoming works, as well as general office administration to support the smooth running of the Paris office.

The successful candidate will gain experience in a fast-paced and collegiate environment that contributes to their own professional development. Phillips values a workforce with a wide variety of experiences, backgrounds and skills and we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the qualifications.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The intern will be involved with a variety of different tasks including:

• Conducting provenance and art historical research for upcoming auctions — using Phillips' library, external Paris libraries, and online sources — and supporting the preparation and coordination of valuations.
• Assisting with coordination and installation of auction previews, exhibition and/or events.
• Assisting with request for artist's committees.
• Apply to French export certificates.
• General department administrative tasks as assigned by line manager.
• Shipping coordination.
• General assistance to Phillips employees in Paris.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Excellent and proven research capabilities.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Intellectual curiosity and ability to contribute ideas in a collaborative environment.
• Highly detail-oriented, meticulous and eager to learn.
• The ability to deal effectively and efficiently with multiple tasks while working to meet strict deadlines.
• Professional manner in the workplace.
• Ability to work independently on one's own initiative and as part of a team
• Ability to learn Phillips' internal processes and systems

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Languages: Fluent French (written/spoken). Fluent English – including written and spoken.
• Previous experience in an auction house welcomed

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Hours of work are 35hpw (between 9am and 6pm)
• There will be times when you are expected to work occasional evenings around sale and events

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This is a four-month internship placement and at present, there is no scope for this to develop into a permanent position. All candidates must be eligible to work in France as we are unable to assist with visa applications for our internship placements.

The monthly pay for this role is €2,200.41