Art History Lecture Series | Owls in Art

Around 35,000 years ago, early humans etched the image of an owl onto the wall of a French cave. In classical antiquity, owls became symbols of Athena and her wisdom, while Francisco Goya used them to represent darkness and nightmares. Hieronymus Bosch's owls, meanwhile, defy categorization. From ancient Greek coins to the works of Picasso and Miró, this lecture will explore how these striking nocturnal raptors have played a wide range of roles throughout the history of art.

About the Art History Lecture Series

The Frye Art Museum presents a new season of lectures by art historian Rebecca Albiani, exploring masterpieces of world art, and offering pivotal context to deepen understanding of works on view at the Frye.

About the Instructor

Rebecca Albiani has been an arts lecturer at the Frye Art Museum since 1997. A former Graduate Lecturing Fellow at the National Gallery in Washington D.C., and a Fulbright Scholar in Venice, she holds an MA from Stanford University and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley.

A black and white collage with an image of an owl looming over white crosses planted in the ground

Sam Isamu Kimura. The Owl Called My Name, ca. 1978. Gelatin silver print. 16 x 20 in. Frye Art Museum, Gift of Carey T. Kimura. Copyright held by artist’s family.

January 8, 2026

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Frye Art Museum
704 Terry Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104

2025–26 Art History Lecture Series Ticket Prices and Tiers:

Individual Tickets
Members: $15
Non-members: $20
Students: $10

Individual in-person tickets are available on the day of the lecture and cannot be purchased in advance. Tickets must be purchased in person with a credit or debit card; cash is not accepted. Recordings of lectures will be available for purchase shortly after lecture date.

In-person Series Pass
Members: $150
Non-members: $200
Students: $100

Recording Only Series Pass
Members: $140
Non-members: $190
Students: $90

Ticketing Policies:

Registration
You may purchase a series pass in advance of the start of the season or at any point during the season while supplies last. Individual tickets for the in-person lectures are not available in advance, but can be purchased in person on a first come first served basis.

Confirmation
Registration is confirmed by email.

Cancellation
The Frye Art Museum reserves the right to cancel any lecture. If the Museum cancels a course or class, a full prorated refund will be issued. Questions? Contact learning@fryemuseum.org

Ticket Limit