Teaching Artist: Adult Figure & Portrait Sculpture
Position Title: Teaching Artist: Adult Figure & Portrait Sculpture
Reports To: Manager of Adult Education
Position Classification: Part-Time Faculty
Wage Classification: Hourly, Non-Exempt
Start Date: January 2026
Position Summary
Fleisher is seeking a skilled teaching artist with prior teaching experience to lead adult figure and portrait sculpture classes. The ideal candidate is excited to teach those who are new to figure sculpture, guiding students as they build technical skills, explore creative possibilities, and gain confidence in the studio. Classes emphasize a supportive and inclusive learning environment, with faculty providing hands-on instruction, thoughtful feedback, and culturally responsive teaching. Respect for figure models and a commitment to upholding and uplifting Fleisher’s guidelines for working with them are essential. This is an opportunity to share your expertise, inspire creativity, and be part of a vibrant community of adult learners.
Who You Are
You are an enthusiastic and experienced artist and educator with a strong foundation in figure and portrait sculpture. You are skilled at working with adults who are new to artmaking, and you can design engaging, thoughtful, and culturally responsive lessons that introduce fundamental concepts and techniques. While most Fleisher classes are geared toward beginning and introductory-level students, you are also able to adapt your teaching to support learners with more experience.
You value and respect a range of artistic traditions, and you are excited to contribute your perspective, and are excited to teach multiple approaches including classical, non-Western, and contemporary, to a program that encourages diverse modes of working with the figure. You bring patience, flexibility, and clear communication to the classroom, creating a welcoming space where students feel confident experimenting, taking risks, and developing their artistic voice.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Duties include, but not limited to):
- Design and implement a well-planned lesson
- Communicates with Adult Programs Manager about basic supply needs, curriculum development, model requests, and lesson plans
- Arrives 30 minutes before class to set up
- Manages classroom time to appropriately clean the studio space with students before end of class
- During the class, is respectful of students, models, and Fleisher staff
- Inform Fleisher of any changes to your schedule which preclude you from instructing your committed class in a timely manner
Qualifications:
- Experienced teaching artist with a solid artistic skill set, and a minimum of two years teaching experience (equivalent education or transferable skills) instructing technique to adults with a range of backgrounds and experiences.
- Experience developing a thoughtful, fun, creative, and culturally appropriate lesson plan and a class curriculum spanning from 5 to 10 weeks.
- Can provide clear and thoughtful feedback to students, both in group and one-on-one settings.
- Flexible, can work in a variety of studio environments with large and diverse groups of people.
- Punctual, organized, communicates in a timely fashion with Fleisher staff
- Language skills in Spanish, Indonesian, Khmer, Mandarin or Cantonese a plus
Benefits for Part-time Faculty Include:
- $35 paid per hour (including half an hour per session for set up and clean up)
- Annual Fleisher Faculty Exhibition
- Tuition waived for one class or workshop per term
- Free admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Annual Membership to Fleisher Art Memorial
To apply: If this position seems like a good match for your personality, skills, and career goals, please submit your cover letter, resume, and three references (all in one document) via Submittable. No phone calls, please.
Applications for this position will be accepted on a rolling basis until the role is filled.
Interview Process: The interview process will include a brief phone call with the Manager of Adult Education, followed by an in-person interview and tour with them and another member of the Education Department.