Madeline Heller
New York, US | London, UK
maddyheller@optonline.net | Madeline-Heller@outlook.com
+1 631 559 9364
LinkedIn: madeline-heller-95a119304
Professional Summary
Art historian with an MA in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art (Distinction, 2026), specializing in contemporary Sinophone art. Currently an Associate at Toasty Gold Inc., managing photography, lotting, and online auction listings for private estate sales while leading a refresh of the business’s social media presence. Brings curatorial experience in collections management, condition reporting, and exhibition development, alongside provenance research and cataloguing expertise from Christie’s Modern and Impressionist Department. Seeking a research, collections management, or curatorial role at a leading gallery or museum, combining precision in collection documentation with hands-on experience across market-facing art world operations.
Work Experience
Toasty Gold Inc. | New York, USA
Estate Sales & Liquidations Associate | August 2026 – Present
- Support residential estate sales and liquidations by coordinating post-sale pickups, managing the transfer of purchased items to buyers, and communicating with clients about remaining unsold inventory.
- Facilitate organized, respectful on-site logistics when clearing estate properties, working directly with buyers and family members throughout the process.
- Photograph, lot, and catalogue estate items for online auction listings on AuctionNinja, ensuring accurate descriptions and presentation of merchandise across sales.
- Lead a rebrand of the company’s Instagram presence, developing content strategy to improve engagement and visibility for upcoming sales.
Christie’s | London, UK
Work Experience Intern | Modern & Impressionist Department | June 2026 – July 2026
- Researched artworks using catalogues raisonnés, auction catalogues, scholarly publications, archives, and online databases to support specialist and cataloguing research.
- Investigated provenance, exhibition histories, and artist backgrounds for Modern & Impressionist artworks in preparation for sales.
- Observed condition reporting, artwork examinations, and provenance verification procedures.
Guild Hall | East Hampton, NY
Membership Associate | 2024–2025
- Coordinated logistics for exhibitions and live programs; liaison between artists, performers, and internal teams.
- Supported installation and deinstallation of exhibitions and art fairs; handled artworks to professional standards.
- Managed membership database (Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT), maintained accuracy across 1,000+ records.
- Delivered high-level front-of-house service, engaged with visitors, collectors, and donors to enhance institutional relationships.
- Trained staff on internal systems and visitor engagement protocols, improved operational consistency.
Hallockville Museum Farm | Riverhead, NY
Curatorial & Collections Intern | 2024–2025
- Digitized and catalogued collections using PastPerfect, improved accessibility and retrieval of archival records.
- Conducted detailed condition reports and preservation assessments to support long-term collections care.
- Curated exhibitions and interpretive materials, enhanced visitor engagement and educational impact.
- Reorganized storage systems, increased efficiency in collections management and object tracking.
Richard & Carole Cocks Art Museum | Oxford, OH
Curatorial & Collections Intern (Concurrent Roles) | 2023–2024
- Assisted in planning and installation of the 2024 Recent Acquisitions exhibition; supported object handling and layout design.
- Coordinated incoming and outgoing loans, ensuring compliance with museum and registrarial standards.
- Maintained and updated records in TMS (The Museum System) for a multi-thousand-object collection.
Miami University | Oxford, OH
Teacher’s Assistant – Africa, Native America, & Oceania | 2022–2023
- Supported course coordination and grading for art history courses, managed administrative workflows.
- Facilitated student engagement through structured feedback and object-based learning support.
Education
The Courtauld Institute of Art | London, UK
MA History of Art | Graduated July 2026 with Distinction
Program(s): Culture Wars: Art and Socialism since 1917; Global China: Chinese Contemporary Art & Infrastructures
- Focus: Modern & Contemporary Art, Eastern Europe, China, and the former Soviet Union, Critical Theory, Exhibition Curation, Global Migration, and Visual Culture.
Miami University | Oxford, OH
BA Creative Arts | May 2024
- Major: Art & Architecture History
- Minors: Architecture & Interior Design; Japanese
Skills
Collections & Registrarial:
- TMS (The Museum System), PastPerfect
- Collections Documentation & Digitization
- Object Photography & Digital Cataloguing
- Condition Reporting & Object Handling
- Loans Coordination & Inventory Management
- Provenance Research
- Art Market & Auction House Research
- Archival & Scholarly Research
- Preservation & Preventive Conservation Practices
Exhibitions & Logistics:
- Exhibition Preparation & Installation
- Logistics Coordination
- Art Handling (Multi-Medium Works)
- Exhibition Operations
Client & Operations:
- Client Relations & Visitor Services
- Estate Sales & Liquidation Support
- Online Auction Platform Management (AuctionNinja)
- Vendor & Buyer Coordination
- Front-of-House Operations
- Administrative & Project Support
Technical:
- Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT
- Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Google Workspace
- Canva
- Social Media Content Management & Digital Marketing