Linny Frickman studied art history at Oberlin College (A.B., 1978) and at the University of Colorado at Boulder (M.A., 1987). She began her museum career at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in 1979, followed by her position as registrar at the Menil Collection from 1980-1984. As part of the then small staff at the Menil, she worked closely with curators, conservators, and the director Walter Hopps on a number of exhibitions included the Yves Klein exhibition, which traveled to the Guggenheim Museum and the Georges Pompidou Center, and on preparations for the Menil Collection building. After relocating to Colo., Frickman began to teach modern and contemporary art history at Colorado State University, ran the gallery program, and became the founding director of Colorado State's first art museum in 2009. At Colorado State, Frickman has organized and curated numerous exhibitions and founded and coordinated the Critic and Artist Residency Series.

Frickman has been honored with a number of awards including a College of Liberal Arts Excellence in Teaching Award, the Award for Distinction in Advancement, the Richardson Honors Scholar Advisor Award, an Administrative Professional Star Award, and the Colorado Higher Education Art Educator of the Year Award.