The Rooster display sure was different. This gallery can usually be hit or miss (as is the case…read morewith all of them). But I'm generally intrigued by it's selection. It always has artists who manage to add an interesting theme into their work. Aside from the roosters, some of the other displays I have seen here have included one that incorporated wrenches and other tools into it's artwork, and another that placed nature scenes into locations that were very un-nature like.

Small, bare-bones gallery that's run by a cooperative, so you never know what you might see on the…read morewalls here. I stopped in recently to see Steve Messenger's show, and was quite impressed by the detail and personality in his portraits, especially since his subjects express themselves through the smallest shift of the eye or flick of the ear. The coop members who "gallery sit" are welcoming and helpful, and beyond that, there's not a whole lot to say - this is a simple space that lets the art speak for itself.

Bridgette Mayer Gallery is one of my favorite exhibition spaces in town. It's very professional,…read morethe quality of presentation is consistently superb and the stable of artists are among the best in the city.

Nice, fairly small gallery featuring rotating contemporary works. It's free and located on the…read morenorthwest corner of Washington Square Park.

Love the name and easy to remember since it's right on Arch Street. Arch Enemy Arts has become one…read moreof my favorite galleries to visit, especially during Philly First Fridays. Every gallery in the city tends to have its own vibe and the artists they invite reflect that. This one definitely leans toward the fantastical. Think dark fantasy, surrealism, gothic influences, mythology, and a lot of incredibly detailed imaginative worlds. As someone who plays a lot of D&D, this place is basically catnip for me. A lot of the paintings feel like concept art for worlds that could exist in a campaign. Creatures, strange landscapes, dreamlike characters, and scenes that feel like they have entire stories behind them. The art style tends to be very polished and illustrative, with rich colors, dramatic lighting, and tons of detail. You can stare at one piece for a long time and keep noticing new little elements hidden inside. It really feels like you could step into some of these paintings and explore the world inside them. The space itself is intimate but well curated, so the exhibitions always feel cohesive. Every time I come for First Friday there is something new and interesting on the walls. Always a great time and definitely one of my favorite galleries in Philly.

This is an awesome gallery…read more When we were lucky enough to hang out here last week, the pieces on display were alternately beautiful, dark, haunting, freaky, creepy, and most certainly conversation pieces. I'm a fan. Combined with a well-lit, large and well-appointed space with a very accommodating staff, it's unsurprisingly an excellent place to host a private event. My only issue with the entire space was the spotty wi-fi, which made using the Sonos music system a bit of a headache. Perhaps it would've been better if (excuse my language) we were not on the "Arch Enemy" network, but the "Suck A Bag Of Dicks" network. Or maybe we should've tried "Peg Me Like A Dirty Whore." I guess we'll never know.

Now that a friend has an incredible art display up throughout this month, it feels like a good…read moreopportunity to review an eclectic art gallery that does a great job of curating a blend of local and international artists throughout the year. For the past 30+ years the owner of PII has held true to their Eastern European roots and American contemporary art connections to bring in an eclectic amount of artists who deal with textile design, printmaking, painting, sculpture, photography, and then some. And that Philly and foreign artist connection is exactly why PII stands for the Philadelphia International Institute. As a result one month you might come across textiles and sculptures from a Ukrainian artist, and on another you might find a noteworthy show from a renowned Philly artist like Natalie Hope McDonald (https://www.instagram.com/p/DPKTxVlkSnU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==). No matter what your guaranteed to find an eclectic selection of artists! March features an Decipher (https://www.instagram.com/p/DUnzHikjqjm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==), a solo show from Philly pop artist, Alloyius Mcilwaine (https://www.instagram.com/culturesclothing/), who is known for his bold compositions, layered geometry, and street-influenced aesthetic, Mcilwaine introduces audiences to "Kudoglyphs" --a symbolic system of positive affirmations expressed through abstract forms. You might have seen him live paint during Wu-Tang Clan's final Philly performance, design a game day poster for the Philadelphia Eagles, or design art for Tyler the Creator; and that was just last year. So if your looking to see some vibrant pop art popping in during their regular hours is a must!

I really enjoy PII Gallery. It's a tasteful space and one I try to stop by when doing Philly First…read moreFridays. Every gallery tends to have its own style and the artists they choose to showcase usually follow that vibe. This one leans toward pop art as well, but in a more modern direction. The current exhibit had a lot of influences from the 2010s and early 2020s. Think bold lines, playful shapes, layered graphics, and pieces that feel almost like they could jump off the wall. There were definitely some doodle inspired works too, very reminiscent of artists like Mr Doodle. Lots of movement, packed compositions, and that fun chaotic energy where the whole canvas is filled with characters, patterns, and little details. Overall just a really fun gallery to walk through. Cleanly curated, visually engaging, and a nice contrast to some of the more traditional gallery spaces nearby.

I happened to walk past Paradigm Gallery + Studio on Saturday when I was walking around Old City. I…read morelooked their large glass windows on the front of the building and decided to pop in to see what I could tell from outside was quite fun and colorful and playful art. I'm sure the artists they're showing changes, but the art when I visited was youthful and fun. It perhaps wasn't quite to my taste for purchasing, but I enjoyed seeing what they were exhibiting. They also had small shop area for making purchases beyond he art they had displayed. A fun stop whether you're in the market for some art or not.

I love going to this gallery, especially for First Fridays. I've discovered many new artists and…read morealso seen artwork by artists I already knew. I love how they curate the art and have a variety of different art beyond paintings. The large sculptural works have been my favorite.

This place is AMAZING! Their work is SO beautiful that every time I see it online (like on…read moreFacebook), I have to stop to admire it. And then visiting with them in their studio in the Manayunk section of Philly, they were so patient and helpful - they helped me find the perfect piece for my friend's anniversary. There's something magical about blown glass - the art itself is ancient, the work exacting, and don't even THINK about getting near that oven when the glass is melted. True artist and so helpful. LOVE this place!

This gallery tried to pull a bait and switch on me through the Etsy website…read more The day after I purchased a vase online I got a message from Katz saying that they would not ship the order they'd already charged me for unless I paid an additional $85 or purchased a different, more expensive item. I reported this unethical behavior to Etsy, but two different customer service reps informed me that Etsy allows such bait-and-switch tactics on their site as long as the vendor refunds the original purchase price. When I informed Katz that I would be notifying my credit card company about their fraudulent charge, I got a response that I shouldn't because they had credited my account -- which the card company hasn't been able to confirm yet.

I have personally visited and acquired art from this gallery…read more But, don't let the gallery name, Works on Paper, deceive you in to thinking that this venue offers only drawings and prints. The gallery also has a diverse inventory of original paintings and sculptural objects. And, there is no reason to travel to Chelsea, NY as the gallery specializes in emerging and contemporary art in a spectrum of both media and artistic styles. The space is conveniently located in the heart of Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square amid the bustle of Walnut Street, directly above American Apparel. The gallery space is large and open with natural light and a constantly changing exhibition of contemporary masters (Andy Warhol, Richard Serra, Chuck Close, Richard Diebenkorn, James Rosenquist, Jasper Johns, Sean Scully and Sol Lewitt, et al) and contemporary artists whose name and history should be more household but is more broadly museum-based (e.g., Toby Kahn). According to the the gallery owner, Works on Paper publishes, distributes and trades important Print editions and is also vested in developing the next generation of important artists ranging from abstract to street-based to post modern landscapes to architectural interiors, all in a variety of media. The gallerist, Evan Slepian, is ideally suited for his profession - he is immediately likeable, recognizably passionate, intellectually knowledgeable and connected to the American and European art community. Mr. Slepian is conversant on the subject of his art and artists without being condescending and his pricing is comparatively reasonable with fine and collectible art ranging from offerings of a few hundred dollars to a million plus. This top floor gallery is a top notch space with inventory worth exploring like any great public, private or museum collection. Keep your eyes open when visiting, it's easy to be overwhelmed and miss an exotic desktop object or small canvas casually placed as if in your private home. Highest of recommendations.

This is such a great gallery!…read more It's in a prime location in Rittenhouse Square, right next to the Apple Store and above American Apparel. It's easy to miss it as it's on the top floor, but once you find it, you'll be happy you did. Lots of interesting artwork there, and displayed very well. Even the restrooms are adorned with some gems - including a few Shepard Fairey pieces you can't help but love.

Everything was great and very helpful. Came in and the store had a ton of wonderful options and…read morechoices. The entire process was quick and easy and the final product came out great! No complaints, highly recommend. Excellent price and value as well.

First off, I priced this job at two other establishments in my neighborhood. In one case, the price…read more- right on the same street - was double. So there is truth in the name Frugal Frames. More importantly, the person I dealt with took time, had patience, shared helpful information about the job and helped me choose a frame that looked good and complimented the painting's colors. When I got it home, my spouse thought the framing actually enhanced the painting. You know, you sort of take a chance with a first framing job. You wonder how it will turn out. All I can say is I was entirely satisfied and I wouldn't hesitate to bring other work to be framed.