Beginner’s Guide to the Hidden Art Scene in Philadelphia

WRITTEN BY Shea Lodewick

NYC has the MoMA, the Met, and the Guggenheim and is a hub for contemporary art. Paris is home to the Louvre, Monet's Water Lilies, and an art scene with a history as long and rich as the city. Why should anyone travel beyond these iconic cities for the arts?  Because Philadelphia is home to some of the best museums and galleries in the country. The Philadelphia Museum of Art houses masterpieces such as Vincent van Gogh's, 'Sunflowers' and Pablo Picasso's 'Three Musicians.’ But Philly offers so much more art than just the PMA. Throughout the city, you will find art anywhere you look. A walk in Center City will greet you with murals scattered throughout buildings, small galleries that exhibit artists residing in Philadelphia, and museums with niche topics such as medical anomalies and textile art. Additionally, the city is known for its street art scene, from graffiti to murals to mosaics outside a gallery or museum. Walking through Philadelphia puts your imagination on high alert; you’ll find inspiration anywhere you turn.   

I grew up visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and I have witnessed many exceptional exhibitions throughout the years. On my 16th birthday, I went to the PMA for the Fashion Dior exhibit. Seeing these garments blew my mind, and this experience was transformative for my future career in Design and Merchandising. It made me want to dive deep into the Philadelphia art scene and find experiences that made me feel as captivated and electrified as the Dior exhibition. It is exciting to know that the city has so many places for an art lover like me and any student, in fact, to leave the confines of University City and take in what the rest of Philadelphia’s art scene has to offer.  

Fabric Workshop and Museum

1214 Arch St, Philadelphia | fabricworkshopandmuseum.org  

As I stepped into the Fabric Workshop, I was met with a quaint room filled with excellent textiles by Jessica Campbell in her exhibition titled “Heterodoxy.” Heterodoxy is defined as a deviation from accepted beliefs. Her art focused on women’s rights and how, throughout history, women have been oppressed and experienced many social problems and fought for voting rights, abortion rights, and prison reform. Fuzzy patterns on each wall made me recall my childhood and tempted me to reach out and feel the material. Alas, I was met with a “Do not touch sign” hung above each wall. I was pleased to learn that the textiles were being sold in small swatches in the next-door gift shop. The exhibit displayed drawings resembling political cartoons juxtaposing the friendly, child-like textile wall. There were artifacts displayed that were tied to the women's suffrage movement. The exhibit was fascinating because you could observe that every little detail was thought out exceptionally well. The harsh political cartoons on the walls were softened by a friendly textile nearby with a smiley face and floral patterns. The artifacts were displayed on wooden tables in the middle of the room with blue lights, emanating an eerie vibe. The museum is a great experience that highlights exciting and historic exhibits and engages a broader audience than just the ordinary art buff.   

ICA

118 S 36th St, Philadelphia | icaphila.org 

The ICA, or Institute of Contemporary Art, in University City, is a short walk from Drexel’s campus and is free to the public! This museum has been open since 1963 and has exhibited many iconic artists such as Andy Warhol, Agnes Martin, and Laurie Anderson. The institution's mission is to engage and educate students on what is happening within the contemporary art world. The ICA’s current exhibition displays works by Jes Fan, Nikita Gale, Hannah Levy, Ken Lum, and Oren Pinhassi. The “Moveables” exhibition demonstrates sculptures questioning how we use ordinary objects in our everyday lives. Walking through the exhibit, I was met with eccentric and somewhat peculiar sculptures. I witnessed a tree-like sculpture acting as a toothbrush holder. It was something out of a Dr. Seuss movie. The most intriguing sculpture that caught my attention was in the middle of the room. Four couches faced one another. In the center of the room stood a freestanding wall with arches running through it. One could gaze upon it a hundred times and perceive it differently with each glance. The ICA and this exhibit are perfect for anyone who enjoys modern sculptures. 

Magic Gardens

1020 South St, Philadelphia | www.phillymagicgardens.org

Magic Gardens, located on South Street, boasts an enchanting nook that encapsulates what Philly is genuinely known for… street art. As you walk through the gardens, you will be astonished that the entire place is made up of mosaics. From the floors to the walls and to the ceilings, you will be met with a hodgepodge of textures, colors, and inanimate objects that create an exciting space for people of all ages. Every inch of the space has something new. Turning each corner will make you feel like you are wandering through the woods of Alice in Wonderland. You are blasted with lustrous objects, eccentric coloring, and multifaceted sculptures you have only seen in your dreams. Isaiah Zagar, founder of the gardens, crafted each element using old bottles, abandoned bicycle wheels, wires, picture frames, and more, creating a vibrant display that leaps out from each wall. It isn’t hard to get caught up in the amazing detail that every inch of the space contains. The Gardens is woven into the fabric of Philadelphia and represents a wonderful place for anyone interested in getting to know the city's culture. It is a fairy tale, and the atmosphere allows each visitor to be engulfed in a fantasy land that allows reality to stop… if only for a moment.       

Jules Goldman Books and Art

29 N 2nd St, Philadelphia | julesgoldmanbooksandantiques.com

Jules Goldman Books and Art is a wondrous boutique nestled in the heart of Old City, Philadelphia. Seemingly a simple bookstore, you will be met with instant clutter and chaos as you walk through the doors. Jules Goldman Books and Art recreates the thrilling experience of setting foot into your grandmother’s attic, terrified by the prospect of knocking over a family heirloom worth a fortune. The abundance of art, antiques, books, and random objects is overwhelming but exciting to rummage through the mess as you anticipate finding something to top your antique collection. Maybe you’ll find a painting, a teapot, a record, or a clock. You will be sure to find something unique in this space.  Adrenaline begins to pump as you walk through the store, attempting not to trip over any masterpieces lying on the ground. As soon as I walked through, my eyes locked with the most beautiful and exciting paintings I had seen in the city. Scribble scrabble, collage, texture, and details are flooding through these paintings. Beautiful Basquiat-esque works made by artist James Gormley are displayed on each wall. Dozens of works and posters are stacked on top of each other, allowing their visitors to scour through the actual mess only to find the perfect piece of art for their walls. This store is perfect for someone like me who loves eclectic and unconventional art and finds it fascinating. Be sure to check out this fantastic spot, but make sure you leave at least an hour for the visit.  

The Woodmere Art Museum

9201 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia | woodmereartmuseum.org 

The Woodmere Art Museum is in Chestnut Hill, about 25 minutes from Drexel’s campus. The Woodmere Art Museum is a vibrant institution housed in a 19th-century mansion. Its architecture contributes to the museum’s ambiance, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for its visitors. Pulling into the parking lot, you meet several beautiful sculptures that set the artistic scene. A rhythmic sculpture that acts as a fountain sits beside the mansion. As you walk up to the building, you can find people reading or hanging out on the rocking chairs, contributing to the very home-like feel of the museum. As you enter Woodmere’s doors, you are met with a grand staircase, wood embellishments, and high ceilings. The paintings presented within the museum were of a more classical nature. The museum’s permanent collection includes many sculptures. One that caught my eye was a sculpture of President Lincoln created by Sarah Fisher Aimes, which was created entirely of marble. The most stunning space within the museum is the open room with two floors. Paintings are scattered along each wall in a room resembling the Colosseum. To get onto the second floor of the space, you can climb a tightly concealed spiral staircase, where you can find the rest of the collection. The Woodmere boasts a collection of over 8,000 paintings and is renowned exclusively for showcasing the works of Philadelphia artists. It is an excellent destination for visitors looking to immerse themselves in Philadelphia's culture. 

Arch Enemy

109 Arch St, Philadelphia | www.archenemyarts.com 

Arch Enemy Boutique and Gallery is in Old City, Philadelphia, and inhabits a beautiful brick building within a neighborhood of art galleries. Walking into this space, I was immediately met with the funkiest works of art that transported me into a world I didn’t know existed. I witnessed works that incorporated a sinister-like feel within their frames, giving me an eerie feeling. Turning the corner, I saw collages of tiny works in the “Small Wonders” exhibition. These fascinated me because each piece differed from the one sitting next—many pieces incorporated surrealist, animal-like art, creating a quirky feel for the viewer. A few pieces that caught my eye were displayed in intricate frames that added to the oddness of the exhibit. The drawings inside the frames looked like they could be a tattoo design. They featured incredible detail and displayed pieces incorporating a woman's body and floral designs. Another exhibit that stuck out to me was “The Ghost Lights” by Juliet Schrenker. This included 16 black and white drawings made from ink and graphite. They were drawings of different birds wearing sailor hats. I found it funny and somewhat ridiculous to look at, but I kept coming back to it. The detail within each tiny drawing was impressive, allowing me to appreciate the artist's depth. Arch Enemy is an excellent spot for anyone who loves looking at surrealist art.  

Paradigm

12 N 3rd St, Philadelphia | www.paradigmarts.org

Paradigm is a sophisticated and swanky gallery residing in Old City, Philadelphia. Three floors tall, Paradigm showcases artists from Philadelphia and around the world. I visited Paradigm during the opening exhibitions of 2 artists' works: “Close Reading” by Alexis Nutini and “Proximity Spectacle” by Lucha Rodriguez. Both exhibitions were very different yet fascinating to explore. In “Close Reading,” the amazing printmaking pieces incorporate bright coloring and geometric shapes. They allowed for a somewhat “trippy” feel for the viewer. A lot of the works displayed made my eyes widen, seeing the pops of color contrasted with the black background of the painting. One piece that caught my eye was a monoprint pasted on wood. The piece was filled with a scribble of bright colors and lines running throughout the whole panel. It made my eyes wander excitedly throughout the piece. The coolest part of this work was the contrast of bright coloring to the faded-out background. It made it seem as though the patterns were dripping down the panel. As I climbed up the spiral staircase in the back of the gallery, I was met with beautiful relief works by Lucha Rodriguez.  Rodriguez’s works evince a much calmer vibe than Nutini's, and the pieces were filled with geometry and a neutral color palette. As you stood close to each composition, you could see the incredible detail in each creation. Paradigm is a riveting space for someone who enjoys the art of all mediums. It is a great place to stop during Old City’s First Fridays and a must-see during an Old City weekend trip.