Adam Novak

Founder and Head Conservator, Novak Studios

Master of Science, Art Conservation — Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation

Professional Associate, American Institute for Conservation

Adam Novak has worked in art conservation for more than twenty years, in both institutional and private practice. Before founding Novak Studios in 2020, he spent five years as Paper Conservator for Special Collections at Harvard Library, following fellowships at the Harvard Art Museum's Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies and at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

His practice is devoted to modern and contemporary works on paper — the treatment of individual objects, the assessment and survey of collections, and the documentation and preventive care that determine whether a work survives the next fifty years intact. He works directly with collectors, galleries, auction houses, artist foundations, and institutions.

He is a published researcher, a guest lecturer at two of the four US graduate conservation programs, and an elected member of committees of the American Institute for Conservation.

Education

  • Master of Science, Art Conservation — Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation (WUDPAC)

  • Bachelor of Arts, Art Conservation — University of Delaware

WUDPAC is one of a small number of graduate programs in the United States that trains art conservators to professional standards, admitting a limited cohort each year.

Publications

  • Greenhalgh, A., Novak, A., et al. "To Print on Air: Robert Rauschenberg's Hoarfrost Editions." Facture, Volume 4. Washington: National Gallery of Art, 2020.

  • Novak, A. and Keynan, D. "Recapturing the Subtleties." The Book and Paper Group Annual, Vol. 36, 2017.

  • Novak, A. "Aquazol as a Heat Set Adhesive on Paper." The Book and Paper Group Annual, Vol. 33, 2014.

  • Novak, A. "pH Strips versus pH Meters." The Book and Paper Group Annual, Vol. 33, 2014.

[Link each to its DOI, publisher page, or the AIC Book and Paper Group Annual archive. Live links let a prospect verify in one click — that is the entire point of this section.]

Professional Experience

Owner and Head Conservator, Novak Studios LLC — 2020–present

Directs a private conservation practice serving auction houses, galleries, artist estates and foundations, institutions, and private collectors. Supervises a full-time Assistant Conservator and graduate interns. Authors and leads funded, multi-phase conservation initiatives spanning survey, treatment, and staff supervision.

Paper Conservator, Daria K. Conservation LLC — 2015–2020

Managed studio workflow and supervised two conservation technicians on complex treatments for private collectors, artist foundations, and galleries.

Paper Conservator for Special Collections, Harvard Library — 2011–2015

Led conservation of works on paper, manuscripts, rare books, and archival documents. Developed treatment strategies and preservation poli