Erika Dalya Massaquoi

Genius was a groundbreaking, city-wide celebration of cross-disciplinary creativity, co-curated by Erika Dalya Massaquoi and Frye Art Museum Director Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker. Presented at the Frye Art Museum, the project convened over 65 of Seattle’s most influential artists, filmmakers, writers, musicians, choreographers, and cultural organizations—many of them recipients of The Stranger Genius Award.

Spanning sixteen weeks, Genius featured 25 newly commissioned works, premieres, and site-specific installations that activated not only the museum but multiple venues across the city. The exhibition’s modular, shape-shifting gallery environment—designed to accommodate live rehearsals, performances, film screenings, and public conversations—transformed the Frye into a dynamic, interdisciplinary cultural hub.

Drawing on her extensive background in event planning, site-specific curatorial practice, and spatial planning and exhibition design—including expertise in interior design and architectural integration—Massaquoi brought critical insight to every phase of the project’s execution. Her leadership ensured the seamless coordination of large-scale installations, interactive media, and complex public programming.

With deep experience in experiential storytelling, audience engagement, and contemporary art, Massaquoi helped position Genius as both a civic intervention and a cultural landmark. The project addressed urgent themes including racial justice, climate change, housing, and urban development—bridging institutional space with the lived realities of the city’s most creative voices.

The project’s impact is documented in the accompanying publication, Genius: 21st Century Seattle, published by the Frye Art Museum.