Seattle Museums and Art

The Seattle Art Museum

The Seattle Art Museum displays wonderful pieces from all over the world. Whether you'd like to venture back in the past or to a distant land, the Seattle Art Museum will have exactly what you're looking for. The Islamic section houses gorgeous pieces, including a Qu'ran page from the late 9th century and an exquisite book page with a gorgeous, colorful hunting scene. See marble busts and an Egyptian funerary portrait from the outside of a coffin from the 1st or 2nd century. The modern/contemporary section consists of a Jackson Pollock painting and an Andy Warhol print of Elvis.

Come for a day to visit one of the best Seattle museums, where you can enjoy the wide-variety of art on display in the permanent collection as well as any temporary exhibits. Also consider having lunch at TASTE, the museum's restaurant—which serves local, seasonal, and organic dishes with wild ingredients. This is a great place to come if you have an appetite for art and food!

Frye Art Museum

The Frye Art Museum has an assortment of interesting pieces from James and Emma Frye's personal collection. James Fry, the son of a German immigrant, moved from Iowa to Seattle and became a successful businessman. Fry and his wife Emma soon began to invest in art for their private collection, which mostly consists of oil paintings. After James Frye's death in the 1940's, the collection was opened for all to enjoy free of charge. Meet Wednesday through Sunday at 1pm for a free tour of the museum, or call ahead to make to reserve a private tour. You'll love the gorgeous art pieces and the modern setting.

Bellevue Museum

The Bellevue Museum is dedicated to the exploration of art, craft, and design through educational programs and exhibitions. Of all Seattle museums, the Bellevue puts the greatest emphasis of Seattle art and Northwestern culture. Starting as an art fair, the Bellevue became the largest art festival in the Northwest. The museum showcases work in the same vein as the fair. Visit the Bellevue any day of the week to see wonderful exhibitions from northwestern artists.

Travel Tip: If you visit on the first Friday of the month, you'll enjoy free admission.

Public Seattle Art

If you'd like to explore the art around Seattle outdoors, take a self-guided walking tour of public Seattle art. Starting in 1973, the local government allocated a percentage of the local taxes to public art projects. Today, you'll find over 350 permanent public art projects and over 2,600 portable pieces. Visit the Seattle City Government website for official walking tours. Within each downloadable walking tour guide, you'll find a printable map and listing of public pieces. You'll also find some works inside buildings, along small roads, and in parks. Since you won't be able to see everything, it's best to stick to one or two tours. You can always come back to see more Seattle art and visit Seattle museums in the future if you have a great time!

Bring your camera, a water bottle, good walking shoes and an umbrella to stay prepared in case of bad weather. Unlike art in Seattle museums, the public pieces endure all of the harsh elements of the northwest, along with any viewers in the area. Stay warm and hydrated.

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