Black-and-white portrait of Madeline Heller, wearing round wire-framed glasses.

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

Art Market & Professional Interests

  • Contemporary art and global exhibition practices
  • Auction house operations and valuation processes
  • Art fairs and commercial gallery models

Languages

English (Native)

Japanese (Intermediate)

Work Authorization

US citizen with current UK work authorization via a Graduate Visa (valid through July 24 2028).