Art History Lecture Series | Pacific Northwest Coast Native Masks

For many First Nations and tribes of the Pacific Northwest Coast, masks are not simply aesthetic objects; they have vibrant roles in ritual and storytelling, enacting tales of ancestral spirits and supernatural beings. This lecture offers insight into the cultural significance of these masks and serves as an introduction to the Frye’s upcoming exhibition Beau Dick: Insatiable Beings, the first U.S. museum survey of the Kwakwaka’wakw Hereditary Chief, activist, and master carver.

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 dark red painted wooden human mask with long black hair

Beau Dick. Otter Woman, 2016. Red cedar, acrylic paint, horsehair. 21 x 20 x 12 in. Private Collection. Courtesy Fazakas Gallery, Vancouver, BC

October 9, 2025

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