Frye Art Museum

I love the Frye! It’s one of my favorite museums in Seattle, but since they’ve closed their gender-neutral bathroom I don’t go there as often or stay as long. I used to spend hours there. Truly a shame for a museum with so much potential to educate people on human rights.

Love the Frye - it’s on the smaller side but it’s free so easy to pop in and feels ok to spend as little or as much time as you want here. Last time I went was a bunch of rotating exhibits as well as the stand by classic salon style room.

We had a pleasant experience at the Frye museum. Staff was very welcoming, entry is free, they accept donations but don’t push it. They had several multi media exhibits opens. I enjoyed the wide variety they had displayed. It is a small museum, definitely don’t need more than an hour. Facility was clean and quiet and not very busy on a Saturday.

Free Museum with changing exhibitions and one large room containing a really interesting permanent collection. The staff are nice and the exhibit I saw was well-presented and unique. It’s not a huge place, which makes it possible to take it all in on one visit.

First time visiting this little museum, was very impressed with the facility and the exhibits. The staff was very helpful and engaging.

Great spontaneous visit. Outstanding customer service. Although only 3 rooms were open for displays, it was most enjoyable. Beautiful paintings as well as sculptures and artifacts.

I come here several times a year because they change their exhibits quite often, so there is always something new to look at. They showcase both contemporary and classic artworks, and they also feature a lot of local (Pacific Northwest) artists. My favorite artworks are classical paintings of livestock, specifically cows. This museum has like a dozen cow paintings and I love it.

I loved this museum; it was full of thought-provoking exhibits with varied mediums, yet left enough space to really appreciate each one individually. I really liked the layout of the building, as well as how they utilized the layout to transition you from one space to another. A quiet and thoughtful atmosphere with a well curated collection. I highly recommend this place to art lovers and curious minds alike -- you will not be disappointed.

Frye Art Museum is a small art museum located in the pill hill area of Seattle. It is FREE and truly, who can complain about the ability to share the arts with anyone at no cost? So wonderful they are able to do this. Things to know: it's small, so don't go expecting something like the metropolitan. Just keep in mind that the price is right. There is a cute little cafe there if you get hungry (bistro type bites), and it's also close to the international district for other food options. There is a standing historic display, which is seen in my pictures. When you enter the room, head to the back left corner to get a guide with all the painting captions/info. There are also several areas for local art, unfortunately this time I didn't care for these displays (art is subjective so you can take or leave that), but the main gallery room made the trip worth it. The gift shop is cute too and features local art for purchase as well. In all, it's a great way to burn a few hours, especially with the kiddos for no cost.

Frye Art Museum is free thankfully. We made a special trip over after it was recommended to us, but beyond a few of the woven Amazon pieces, it wasn't worth the trip. Designing a museum is an art unto itself. Take the Seattle Art Museum, their curation and styling of the porcelain room makes you care about the pieces. It's so well designed that it makes you more interested in what they're showcasing. Frye Art Museum was not well designed. There were poor choices made for where to place each piece - which when added to the under utilized wall space created an extremely minimalistic room that came across as empty. Even the placards were placed far apart from the art in an attempt to fill up the eggshell walls. Which weren't painted brown to match Amazon packaging or black to evoke the emptiness of space. Very much a missed opportunity for the installation, especially since 'Rising Temperature Casualty' would have been much more evocative against a brown, red, or black wall. All in all, I didn't like the curator's style or editing choices and we don't plan to return.

A beautiful museum, with optional admission payment (donations welcome!). The place is super clean, the bathroom is nice, and there aren't too many people. Its a cute hole in a wall! Very close to other museums around the area, although like rest of downtown Seattle, parking is hard to find. But transit commute is super easy. This place is small but big enough to explore for an hour or so. If you aren't actively looking for a museum, you probably wont have noticed that this was a museum. They also have a cute gift shop that my friend and I stopped by for a while.

I was in the area and I had time to kill, so I decided to stop by this art museum that I often walk part. As I walked in, I was excitedly greeted by a front desk worker who let me know the museum was free, and said I didn't need to check in my small drawstring bag as long as I wore it in front. And off I went! There were two major exhibits on display, and both were really well put together and done well. There was also a permanent collection that largely appeared to be closed. They also have a cute gift shop, and a cafe that was open but I didn't stop by. Overall, small and cute museum! I wouldn't go out of my way to visit at this time (maybe once some of the spaces open up again!) but if you're around, it's a good way to spend 45-90 minutes!

For a free art museum, this place is really pretty cool and very much worth a paid entry - I highly suggest donating. There was a pretty diverse range of mediums and artists on display. The building itself is also really interesting architecture. All the exhibits flowed well and were accessible. My favorite room was almost easy to miss because it's all the way in back and is the historical collection that's pretty much always on display. They have free bag check and lockers and the bathrooms were super clean. The signage for the exhibits is also helpful and they have free tours occasionally too for more context. My only critical feedback is that it would have been more helpful to have more visible signage indicating which areas were ok for photos or videos. Generally I don't think video of any kind is allowed in most exhibits (again I didn't see any signs indicating either way), but I was not sure until I asked the docents in each area. Would definitely come back to see more exhibits.

Free admission, but donation is encouraged! Intimate museum with lots of wonderful pieces to view. The outdoor courtyard was spacious and lovely!

Free admission, size and exhibits on the smaller end. Well displayed and quaint. Takes about a half hour to experience the five small exhibits.

Highly recommend The Frye. It's a semi-kept secret in the heart of First Hill and really should be more well-known. For one thing, it's free to visit. Which cannot be said about other, larger museums in Seattle (except for one day a week). Their talks are also free, so far as I can tell. Thus, the diversity of those who visit The Frye is much vaster, imo. They present a multitude of different artists, recently, on the contemporary spectrum, and the works of people of color are becoming more prominent there. You can become a member and support them but you don't have to in order to visit. It's also a relatively peaceful spot. I love the water feature in the front. Enjoy and Learn!

Small, lovely museum. Definitely suggest stopping by if you are in the area. Admission is free and lots of metered parking nearby. Can easily see everything in an hour. We stopped by the café and found it lovely, but disappointing. Coffee tasted like instant and $8 churros & chocolate were tiny.

Art is meant to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. And this place definitely disturbed me. I had no idea that I had become so comfortable. This is a great free admission museum. They specialize in abstract paintings and agricultural paintings. The museum is really small. However, it is worth stopping by if you're in the area. Abstract art is not my favorite but it certainly made me reflect. The video exhibit really disturbed me. It was about this sect that was using many different meditation methods to alter their states of consciousness. It was really weird and reminded me of adult swim's show 'off the air'. Overall, I am glad I came here. The art truly made me experience many different emotions which is all I could ever ask for.

Free admission, free street parking, clean spot, nice staff - can't lose! The exhibits on display when we went we're pretty interesting, and apparently they rotate what's out every 6 months or so. If you want to kill a rainy afternoon or walk off your lunch this is a perfect activity. You probably just need an hour if you look at everything.

My daughter and I visited the Frye Museum in Seattle in a recent trip. There was no street parking available so we had to pay for parking. The museum is free ! If it's free, it's for me. It's a small museum, but worth a visit ! We went on a weekday, so there were a only a few visitors. It's a hidden treasure. There were German artists as were as local artists

In the late 1990s, I walked inside Frye Art Museum two or two and a half hours before closing. I was told there were classes when I walked in each time. I asked on the final visit about the classes. Back then, there was an Artist In Residence who helped younger museum goers to create art while their parents were looking around. I watched as another person inside tried to touch one of the pieces of art. That person was scolded or reprimanded by a staff person... a docent. I was asked what pieces of art I was working on during my second visit.. I mentioned to the person at the front part that I was looking for "inspirations" as I walked inside. I was then asked how much my latest art piece was going to sell for. I told her... that I would probably give it to my spouse. I did do that. I have a few other pieces of art which I was told wouldn't be able to be on display at the Frye Art Museum until they were officially submitted to the Board. I asked if any of the Board member were present on that afternoon. I suggested to the person at the front that the applications be readily available... because not everyone has access to a printer on demand.

After being new to Seattle and needing to do activities I can afford (yay for Frye being free). Frye quickly became my happy place! I am an art lover and the exhibits here are always great. I love that they rotate them out, so coming here doesn't get old! This is a great spot for a date or just to go clear your mind alone while admiring some unique pieces of art. The gift shop is also fun to go through and a great place to buy a unique gift.

Frye Art Museum is a small, free, enjoyable art museum. I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon and was able to find free street parking around. There weren't many rooms (maybe 3-4) and one video playing. As someone who reads all the signs, the museum must have taken me around 1 hour to complete. I enjoyed the diversity of art available for the public for free. Would highly recommend for a short afternoon activity.

The Frye Art Museum is the perfect thing to do if you're looking for free things to do in Seattle. With only a few galleries, the entire museum is doable in a few hours. When I visited in May 2021, the main exhibit was "Black Refractions." The only other exhibition I viewed was "Unsettling Femininity." Both displayed thought-provoking and beautiful work. Due to Covid, the museum requires timed entry slots that can be reserved online, and the cafe and gift shop are currently closed.

Free museum that I was expecting to be a tiny one gallery joint. Honestly we came here because we thought it'd be a great indoor activity before we hop our flight home. Especially since it was raining out. Art was great, space was really nice too, they have a nice cafe and a small store. For a free museum, I was really impressed.

What a beautiful museum. I recently moved from Portland area and am lucky enough to live close to it. The recent Katherine Bradford show is wonderful.

I really enjoyed my visit to the Frye Art Museum. The museum inside located in Seattle's First Hill area. The museum has the art collection of Charles and Emma Frye, who were business leaders and enjoyed collecting art. The admission is always free. They also have free tours. The collection is wonderful. There are also contemporary exhibits. There's a nice little cafe in the museum. The building is really cool. The main collection has mostly German art from the late 19th centuries and early 20th centuries. Charles Frye died in 1940 and donated his collection to the city. The museum opened in 1952. The building was designed by Rick Sundberg. The tour is great. They help you to appreciate the art, and it was almost like a class. We got to talk about our favorite works and analyze art like an art history class. The guide was great. The museum is free because Charles Frye wanted it that way.

Great modern at museum and free. Right now, Feb 22 they have a great abstract figures artist and a whole section dedicated to animals which I loved. Great descriptions as well. They offer tours of some sort. Worth visiting, moving work. Probably second fav museum with the BAM. Norwegian museum is also great.

Our first visit to the Frye, we got lucky with front tow parking on the street, but be prepared to drive around in search of a space, especially due to the high-traffic areas just blocks away. Beautiful inside, with high ceilings and tastefully displayed works of art, the museum is large, though feels cozy and manageable. There for a story time and art activity, our time perusing the galleries was limited, but it's definitely on our list for a future visit! The story time was vibrant and engaging; the craft time afterwards was fun and relevant to the story heard. (Make sure you RSVP ahead of time to ensure space.)

Very small art museum but its free admission! Just fyi, yelp states that they're open on tuesdays but they are not. They are open starting Wednesdays. I know because I walked 22 minutes from my hotel in DT all the way up there but they were closed so I walked again the next day. I enjoyed the art museum!

Nice lil local museum, I would definitely recommend this place hands down. It's free! I don't know what else to tell you. They come up with great exhibits. This alone should deserve 5 stars. Support local art! Go out and check it for the greatness it is. I actually preferred it over SAM, and plan on going on a regular basis. Bonus, the shop is really great and has some great stuff.

Wonderful free museum. Had a nice blend of modern and classical art. Lots to read and take in. There's a cute cafe and courtyard attached which was awesome.

so sick. free, people are so nice, beautiful art but not too long, also in a quiet area, little shop is nice too!

I am relatively new (returning) to Seattle after 25 years in LA. The arts are a large part of my life. Discovering the well curated sophistication of The Frye in addition to it's incredible architecture has been truly uplifting. Highly recommend a visit. The gift shop is exceptional too. Admission is free but donations encouraged.

Um yes. Get off your phones and stop shipping at Amazon. Art changes your mind. Find a pathway to something new. Go look at cool shit!

A Surprise Exhibit of Matter~Spirit dimensions! Tertia Avis and many aliases! EST-(SER) is worth your time.

Mason Frye was not there when I was at the building. Art was beautiful though. Would recommend.

Very good, more modern art than I expected (a huge plus for me). Surprisingly free, large enough to be comprehensive yet small enough that you can actually enjoy all of the exhibits before your brain or feet get tired. Highly recommend.

Frye Art Museum has Free Exhibits all the Time. But you can donate a few dollars. It's located on First Hill near a few Medical Bldg Garages. St Parking can be $5/ hr during weekdays. There's a nice water pond outside that is very calming. You can sit in the Cafe area to watch it. They serve sandwiches, soup, coffee, tea in the Cafe. On occasion they offer free art and community lectures. In the Giftshop are modern style jewelry, Tarot cards, Cards, Kids' Games, Magic books, and an Ouija Board.

Free Art Museum! The museum showcased work from Cris Bruch, which consisted of an exhibit about the artist's roots as farmers during the earlier half of the twentieth century. There were also Soviet Political Posters. The posters were produced to form opinions and to communicate a message for peasants who were illiterate. The Frye Salon was my favorite exhibit in the museum. It features a collection of paintings hung from ceiling to floor. I could probably spend hours in that room alone. The gift shop had fun and interesting items.

What a find! I happened upon this museum having invested in an impromptu mini vacation with my daughter and her boyfriend. Having learned JUST how expensive the Seattle art Museum, space Needle and Chahule museums were - we yelped for free museums. It was awesome!!!!!! Powerful (and interactive) exhibit on discrimination from the gender, sexuality and race perspectives. Impressed. I'll be back.

I love the Frye! This museum is always free! That is a huge perk! I love taking advantage of the free days that museums offer but sometimes it takes some coordinating and it doesn't always work out with schedules that you may have. Admission rates to museums can be expensive so it's great to see an art museum that is free all of the time! I have been to the Frye Art Museum twice now. Both times I enjoyed the exhibits and found them very informative and beautiful! My last trip here was for the Storme Webber exhibit which showed a reimagining of some of Seattle's history with emphasis on LGBTQ in Pioneer Square in the pre-Stonewall era. This exhibit was very interesting but in some ways got a bit muddled as to what direction was intended... perhaps no direction was intended as history, family history, poetry and archival history seemed to be going in all kinds of directions as far as the subject matter goes. There was a film projector exhibit that was also here which I actually enjoyed a lot more. There was another room filled with all kinds of 19th and 20th Century paintings which also proved to be very enjoyable. Photography is not allowed in or around the exhibits. Sometimes some art museums allow you to take pictures in some areas but it isn't allowed here. Only in the gift shop and outside the building and lobby is it permitted. I look forward to upcoming exhibits the Frye has to offer and always make a pint to keep an ear and an eye out for what may be coming through!

First time here in Seattle and I had to pass by this free admission museum to see the creative exhibit various artist created. It was a rainy day and the calming indoor envirornment was very much needed.

Actually it is a pretty average museum. I came for the salon because i saw very beautiful photos online. I thought it would be wonderful if i could be in that salon. However, when i do come here today, emmmmmm it is very average. Oh also it is a very very small place, but is free to the public. It is a good place to visit, however I just dont feel anything. Dont get me wrong, im a huge fan of various classic painting, and i paint too. It is a good salon, but it is not a salon that people can discover Theodore Gericault. I guess this is just personally because i was so looking forward to visit this place. Ha.

Walking past, the building caught my eye, with a cute cafe and a beautiful water feature. I was happy to know that the museum was free and that alone makes it worth it. Upon entering, I was told that I couldn't have my bag hanging from my shoulder and would have to carry it (this was slightly inconvenient, but not altogether annoying). I'm glad I walked through the Impressionist section first, because it is just "Meh". Next, I went to the Ko Kirk Yamahira exhibit, which was amazing! Then last, I visited the Frye Salon. Wow! The walls are covered with framed art of all sizes. It is really impressive. The museum took an hour (at most) to walk around and see everything, including the gift shop. A short, fun visit and definitely worth it if you have some extra time.

Love love love the Frye! This was my favorite art museum to visit when I lived in Seattle. The museum is rather small, however, the exhibits are generally well-curated. There is one permanent exhibit, The Founding Collection, which is a collection of paintings. The other exhibits tend to be very contemporary and installation-based. If you don't like modern art, then you won't like this museum, but if you like seeing new interpretations of what formats art can be communicated in, this is your spot! Great if you can't make First Thursdays or want to skip the crowds, as admission is always free, as is parking (in a lot across the street), although a donation is recommended. Alternatively, you can support the museum by shopping at their equally well-curated, artist-driven gift shop. There are many delightful gifts to be found there for even the most discerning of art snobs. My most recent visit, on a return trip to Seattle, was rather disappointing, however. Part of the museum is (or was) undergoing some sort of construction at that time, which drastically reduced their floor space and therefore the number and variety of exhibits. Hopefully, it means better things to come on my next visit! Anyway, I highly recommend checking this museum out if you are a modern art lover visiting Seattle, even for a day. It's much less of a commitment than trying to see the SAM and equally rewarding.

Another brief Yelp post for a hidden gem in Seattle's First Hill neighborhood. Been going here for ages, but most recently last month to see Jim Woodring's exhibition. Free parking and admission. Decent onsite café and gift shop. Permanent and rotating art installations.

Loved the Frye Art Museum especially the exhibit done by Alaskan Alison Marks called One Gray Hair. All her pieces really just spoke to me. The collection of work from the Frye founders are just displayed amazingly! Take your time and just absorb. I was there for a good 2 hours (one of the other exhibits was still under construction unfortunately and so was the gift shop). The 2 hours included me stopping by their cafe. Get their veggie/nut bread or whatever it was if you need a quick snack. Really moist! The front staff were really friendly and inviting :) I wish I still had my instastory pictures to show on here:(

I have been to the museum several times and enjoy the collections they have. It is beautiful, smaller space that I find easy to navigate. Some of the lighting can make viewing some paintings difficult. They rotate collections with many artists native to the area. They have live art. It is free to get in and is a nice thing to do if you are in the area. There is a cafe that is quite good. And a small gift shop.

One of the best museums in the city. First off, it's always free. It's also wheelchair accessible. Secondly, it's well-curated. They show contemporary artists from around the world whose work challenges institutions - of art, politics, gender, etc. You might see full-room installations, unusual video pieces, or become part of the piece yourself. It's always fresh and exciting. The Group Therapy show, for instance, featured workshops and events for the public like Cindy Mochizuki's Fortune House tarot readings and monster exorcism, Pedro Reyes' Sanatorium, and even a sound bath - all free "therapy" events open to the public. For the duration of the show, the gift shop matches the theme. The Frye salon, an impressive collection of paintings hung salon-style, is always up, a great way to experience that fascinating chapter of our visual culture. The Frye also puts on regular community events like a movie series, art history talks, art classes, a weekly group meditation sit, performances, and a wonderful Creative Aging program that uses art to help patients with Alzheimer's. Many of these are free or donation-based. They have a free tour every day at 1 where a member of the staff takes you through the work they have on display. This museum clearly believes in making art engaging and accessible to all. Don't miss it. If you're hungry, stop by the Frye's Cafe Frieda, which is very reasonably-priced and delicious.

The Frye Art Museum feels like an Oasis in the middle of a bustling city. Surrounded by endless construction sites you enter the museum through an interesting rotunda and can go and explore great art. They have a pretty solid collection of classic art in addition to their ever changing exhibitions that range from landscape art to street art. Wander through the quiet hallways and get lost in wonderful art before you need to head out again. This museum doesn't charge any admission fees, but think about supporting them with a donation for all their great work and their programs!

I just can't think of anything bad! It's free, there's a lovely collection of older and more modern, and there is free parking right next to the museum. The first time I went, I was surprised to find that a couple of twenty-somethings covered in tattoos and piercings (and smelling of smoke & booze) would go here. I was also surprised to stumble onto a special exhibition featuring some rather familiar works that were there on a special exhibit from the Hermitage in St. Petersburg (lived a train ride away- in a suburb, I guess- of that city until I was 8 years old). This time around I enjoyed the more classic art and at least one of the media (movie) pieces. One of them was about creation myths and that was a little odd. We did not see the sign right away, so we were rather confused at first because all we saw were cut-outs (both male-shaped) attempting "baby-making." It was.... odd, to say the least. The sign made it make a whole lot more sense. It was not my personal preference when it comes to art in a museum, but it was... interesting. Hopefully I'll start going more frequently! I still need to check out their Happy Hour sometime...

Free. Also, the permanent gallery is great! It's one high-ceilinged room jammed with fascinating paintings that I see new things in with each visit. The temporary exhibits are often worth paying for, even though they're free. Did I mention that this museum is free? That said, it's free because people make donations--so enjoy a visit, and make a small donation.

Free admission and free parking? Well, why not, right? A branch of the Seattle Art Museum, this small modern museum is sponsored by the Frye family who mandated this to be a free museum. What more is there to say-free art, great vibe with a full spectrum of creatives to consume. Great little spot for art appreciation. The building is cool. The permanent collection is interesting, but not a must-do in Seattle. Not so great for kids. Perfect for a rainy day. I think there is a cafe on site but we did not go there. The amount of time you spent here varies on how extensive you look at the details but you can probably finish within an hour because of the small size. If you have a spare hour or even less, I'd definitely suggest checking out the Frye! Free admission, and free parking (in a city where the usual cost of parking can be crazy) round out the big plusses. Like I said though, it's free so why not!

This is one of the jewels in the crown of the Seattle art scene. After 35 years of living in the area I finally made a trip to the Frye as part of the Seattle Art Fair experience. The focus of my visit was a presentation of the current exhibition by Walla Walla artist Juventino Aranda, who spoke eloquently about his work and inspiration. http://fryemuseum.org/exhibition/6852/ The museums mission statement is: "The Frye Art Museum is a living legacy of visionary patronage and civic responsibility, committed to artistic inquiry and a rich visitor experience. A catalyst for our engagement with contemporary art and artists is the Founding Collection of Charles and Emma Frye, access to which shall always be free." They certainly live up to that! There is a delightful cafe on site that is worth visiting. I will be back!

This was definitely worth the drive to see. Small museum with only a few rooms, but there was so much to see and revel in I ended up spending a good 90 plus minutes in the one room alone. I visited the museum between exhibits so I only had one room to visit, but it was incredible. Can we talk about the price please? Free. Yes, free admission and free parking. Sold. Cute little cafe inside, that smelled delicious but I wasn't hungry when I was there. Will definitely go again to check out the other exhibit when it opens.

Love Frye, with it's ever changing exhibits and beautiful, tranquil space. It's small, you can do it 30-45 minutes top to bottom, and like others have mentioned it's FREE, which makes it a great place for budget dates, students or those trying to save some dough. Great little gift shop too, I always find something, and their jewelry collection, while small, is creatively thought out.

I really like visiting this museum whenever I stop in Seattle. It's local and exhibits more alternative works. It's also privately funded, which gives it a niche on its own. Today, I saw the Russian display of propaganda posters. They were quite stellar. There were also a few paintings by Russian painters who fought for their freedom to aim for innovation. This was not an easy feat in Stalin run Russian or in communism. There was also a display or recycled church Windows. I find the works always unique & uniquely gratifying. Visit & support this awesome museum.