Frye Art Museum facts for kids
The Frye Art Museum (2007)
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| Established | 1952 |
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| Location | 704 Terry Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 (United States) |
| Type | Art |
| Collections | Modern and Contemporary art |
| Founder | Charles and Emma Frye |
| Architect | Paul Thiry (1952) original; Rick Sundberg of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects – (1997) remodel |
| Public transit access | LINK light rail Pioneer Square station |
The Frye Art Museum is an art museum in Seattle, Washington. It shows both modern and contemporary art. The museum first opened in 1952. It was created to display the art collection of Charles and Emma Frye. Today, it also features new art shows from different artists.
Contents
History of the Museum
The museum focuses on paintings and sculptures from the 1800s to today. Its first artworks came from the private collection of Charles H. Frye (1858–1940) and Emma Lamp Frye (died 1934). The Fryes were German-Americans who mostly collected German and Austrian art. They often bought these pieces directly from art studios in Munich.
Charles Frye owned a meatpacking business in Seattle. In his will, he left money to build a museum for his and Emma's 232 paintings. The Fryes first offered their collection to the Seattle Art Museum. However, that museum said no. This was because Charles Frye's will had special rules. These rules said the art must always be on display. It also had to be shown in natural light. The will also stated that abstract art could not be shown with their collection. And, most importantly, admission to the museum had to be free.
After Charles and Emma Frye passed away, their home was sold in 1941. Many of their paintings were moved to the meat plant. In 1943, a big fire happened at the plant. This fire was caused by a B-29 bomber prototype crashing. Luckily, the stored artwork survived the fire.
The Frye Art Museum was built in Seattle's First Hill area. It opened to the public in 1952. Just as the Fryes wished, it has always been a free art museum.
The Fryes' original collection featured representational art. This means art that shows things as they look in real life. Their art often had a "dark, dramatic, and psychological" feel. The museum's first director, Walser Greathouse, and his wife, Ida Kay Greathouse, liked this traditional style. For many years, the museum mostly showed and bought similar representational art.
After 2007, the museum started to show and collect more Contemporary art. This included styles like Conceptual Art. This was a change from the original rules in Charles Frye's will.
Museum Building
The first building for the Frye Art Museum was designed by architect Paul Thiry. In the mid-1990s, the museum was made bigger and updated. Architect Rick Sundberg led this renovation. As part of the changes, the museum added a 142-seat auditorium. It also added a special studio for art education.
Exhibitions and Programs
The Frye Art Museum hosts many interesting art shows. Some past exhibitions have included "Subspontaneous: Francesca Lohmann and Rob Rhee." This show featured sculptures that used natural forces. Another show was "Agnieszka Polska: Love Bite." The museum also likes to rearrange its own collection in new ways. This helps visitors see the art differently. In 2018, over 109,000 people visited the museum.
The museum has shown works by many modern artists and groups. These include the performance group Degenerate Art Ensemble. They have also featured First Nations artist Duane Linklater. Other artists include American painter Christina Quarles and African-American filmmaker Cauleen Smith.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum temporarily closed its doors. But they still offered ways to see art and learn online. This was through their "Frye From Home" program. The museum planned to reopen for visitors in October 2020.
Art Collection
The Frye Art Museum has a collection of many types of art. This includes paintings, prints, works on paper, and sculptures. Some famous artists whose works are in the museum include Eugène Boudin, Nicolai Fechin, and William-Adolphe Bouguereau. You can also see art by Félix Ziem, Franz von Lenbach, and Franz Stuck.
Museum Library
The Frye Art Museum has a library with over 2,000 books. These books are mostly about American and German art from the 1800s and 1900s.
