During the First Friday Arts Crawl my crew and I stumbled upon a few brand spanking new galleries…read more Salt was the first and while it definitely offered a lot as far as the art and the party, It just felt that it didn't offer a lot professionally and that's why I'm curving middle ground. The perfect example and testament to that fact would be it's website. I was so immersed in and enamored by the art that it had that I genuinely wanted to get some information on who the artists were, and some general information on the gallery. So naturally when I picked up one of their cards and saw a website I figured that it would be the perfect place to get those facts. right? Not even close. If anything it was an exact copy of the business card. Same font, same logo, same color, same generic info. Really? If your going to go to the trouble to purchase the domain name and have a site, having one so basic for something which is filled with so much expression and detail just seems absolutely illogical. The only thing different was the fact that the website had a link to the gallery owners email address. I think I might be sending him a copy of this review. But extreme oversight aside the actual gallery was pretty fantastic. It had a prime location right by Race Street Cafe (although it was also hidden enough to the point that we wouldn't have noticed it if it was for the people walking out with wine glasses and the sound of music). And the art was pretty fantastic. they had supersized painting of semi familiar streets throughout Philadelphia and New York that I have walked through and cherished. they also had the work of an awesome illustrator/shirt designer that was pretty damn amazing. Think anime, meets sci fi, meets WoW, and you might be dead on. And his work was what inspired me to check out the website in the first place. Because McThrill was actually interested in spreading the word, getting the awesome name of his TShirt company again and it's interesting back story, and possibly making a purchase. Make it happen!

Very disappointed in this place! A friend from out of town came in to the city for a girls night…read moreand she was excited to go to this gallery. We checked the hours on-line and decided to meet there at 5, since it closed at 6. Got there at a few minutes after 5 and it was locked up tight. Even the hours posted outside said open to 6 on Saturdays. And there wasn't a sign on their door saying why they closed early (I would have understood if there was a sign stating some kind of explanation - kid is sick, on vacation, abducted by aliens). They are only open 4 days a week (according to the posted hours) so I am more than a bit miffed that they were closed. So for being closed when you were supposed to be open you get one star.

Outstanding representative contemporary fine art gallery with some abstract shows recently. Great,…read morehonest, reliable service in this Philadelphia institution. You do have to search for the door to the second floor of this well lit gallery on 16th Street near Sansom Street.

Although it's on the small size, Qbix has a big heart and offers of a lot of eclectic art displays…read more It showcases a new Exhibit every 2 months, and it features artists who go beyond the ordinary. one month they might have and exhibit with a carnival theme. the next they'll have one that features fantasy artists who do art that go beyond the traditional style you'll find in a Dungeons and Dragons manual. one month they even had art that had hidden definitions inside it. it really has some fascinating stuff. On most Gallery debuts they have people from Peroni on hand to sample out free beer.

though they have now closed, the owners have moved a couple blocks and opened a new store, forsyth…read more(sp?) on 3rd st just above market. i really loved dropping in on them on first fridays and seeing what was new - like bill mentioned they really have stuff that goes beyond ordinary, but you'd have to talk to them or do your research to get the full back story. one of my favorite galleries consisted of these thick pieces with random splatterings of maroons, bright blues and hot pinks. turns out the maroon was all cow's blood, and the pieces were so thick because the artist used layer upon layer of resin, so they were actually slightly 3D. you could look into the piece from the side and see all the different layers. maybe a little freaky to hang cow blood on your walls, but such a cool concept. the owners are very cool people, very laid back and creative and also my neighbors, so i'm a bit biased!

Worth the stop as it's always free admission. Admittedly I did not do my research and was unaware…read morehow small the space is. It's two rooms with rotating exhibitions. No permanent gallery. The current exhibition on Shaker furniture was interesting, but I can see how it's not for everyone. I appreciate what they're doing at the ICA, I just wish there was a bigger permanent collection on display. Shoutout to Juno the welcoming cat.

The Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia - ICA is a…read morelaunchpad for contemporary art and ideas. ICA is on site at the Univeristy of Pennsylvania. We stopped by on our visit to the University of Pennsylvania to specifically see the Joanna Piotrowska: unseeing eyes, restless bodies We didn't think we would spend as much time as we did here, and I loved both of the exhibits. There are two gallery spaces, the first one held "Where I Learned to Look: Art from the Yard", with the curator and several artist being from Texas. I'm not sure I loved it because there was a Texas connection and also Baltimore screen art, but I really enjoyed art from a yard perspective. Fun contemporary art and a Koons piece. The second story held the second exhibit: Joanna Piotrowska: unseeing eyes, restless bodies. She's a Ukrainian artist, and I really thought it was going to be something different but it was a really cool exhibit. I have never seen carpet and space used this way before and her art evoked both fear and whimsy and awe. I love this museum and the fact that it's really quaint - obviously the experience you're going to have here depends on what exhibits are showing, but I had a great time here overall. It's completely free so if you're ever by the University of Pennsylvania, I highly recommend you stop by.

Normally I'm a big huge supporter of original art and all that it has to offer. But this is just a…read moreplace that I can't take seriously. You know how John Malkovich played the jaded art teacher who painted nothing but triangles in Art School Confidential? This would be that in art gallery form. All this gallery ever has on display is different canvases (canvas,wood,etc.) that are painted in a combination of colored blocks. A bright summer color on one side meets a dark night color on the other. Or sometimes it's just a piece that's one color and nothing more. and the entire art display is themed that way, so you can go by every piece rather quickly without putting much thought into what the art might be about. and somehow these pieces of art (?) manage to sell for well over $500. At least the the people who work there are friendly. So at the very least it's an amusing stop to make during First Friday.

If you like Contemporary Art this is the gallery for you. They really stick to the style and don't…read moreventure far from it. It's not my cup of tea because I typically think that contemporary artists are trying too hard to be different and end up being exactly the same as every other contemporary artists. The space is nice. I stop by when I walk by in hopes of finding an artist that grabs me. It hasn't happened yet, but like I said, its my style of choice.

Fortunately I just found out that this place stills exists, Because the whole street that it used…read moreto be on is currently being revamped big time. now the address is 319 North 11th Street, 3rd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107. it's Gallery hours are Wednesday-Sunday 12-6pm and they usually have a lot of good alternative arts. They have a special First Friday viewing that's open to the public from 6-11 PM. Although Vox has been in three different buildings, it has been a non-profit art collective that has supported emerging artists since 1988. so it's good to here that it's still going strong. The Vox on Cherry street had an occasional concert. so maybe this one will too, but it's too soon to tell.

Always fun to see what's going on at Vox... the exhibits range from powerful to silly, thoughtful…read moreto bizarre. You can spend between an hour or more depending on how much you delve into the work. Don't forget that the 2nd floor also has galleries as well. An interesting date spot too.

Twelve Gates Gallery specializes in contemporary South Asian art, and is the first of its kind in…read morethe Philadelphia area! With a strong focus on Pakistani and Indian art, gallery owners Atif Sheikh and Aisha Khan are dedicated to exhibiting artists with a reputation for unique work that follows in, as well as expands on, the rich history and culture of these countries. Establishing itself as one of Philadelphia's leading contemporary fine art gallery programs, Twelve Gates exhibits both local and international artists in a range of media. Through a unique and thought-provoking atmosphere the gallery aims to educate the community on contemporary South Asian art and culture. By holding artist talks, as well as panel discussions on the importance of collecting, the gallery will undoubtedly become a resource for any lover of art. Twelve Gates is sure to become a unique cultural center for the arts in Old City. I may be slightly biased since I intern here part time, but I can guarantee that you will encounter beautiful pieces of work within a gorgeous space. Aisha, one of the owners, is very friendly and personable, and occasionally her adorable young son is also in and around the gallery space, playing with his toy trucks in the back. They also feature some exquisite pieces of jewelry in very unique designs that are available for purchase in addition to all the art hanging on the walls. This is one gallery in Old City you must drop by - there's no other one like it!

When we were on the way to the Clay Studio to top of our arts crawl my crew and I noticed another…read morenew gallery, so naturally we stopped in to check it out. To be honest I liked I liked the space itself (and the food spread) better than the art. But at least it kept it ecletic. Dalet had a good balance between paintings and photography which could be great down the line. The theme of the exhibit was "The Scent Of A Woman", But even though it was a theme that McThrill is usually guilty of being quite fond of, the art in itself. When I scoped out the featured painter the work struck me as being familiar, and it turned out it used to be one of my favorite artists who used to own his own gallery at least 5 years ago. Either my tastes have evoled as I've gotten more seasoned to the crawl, or his style as dwindled (I'm going with a little of each), because his style just didn't grab me as much as it used to. The Photographer they featured was pretty uninteresting. Their work featured the juxtaposition between a mannequin and a live model who were sporting the same clothing and spread out in the same backyard. It didn't grab me per say, but at least it inspired me to do something similar while utilizing the juxtaposition between Aaron O. and Domokun (http://www.curiosite.com/scripts/news/ennews.php?frmIdPagina=10103) Art aside the space itself was pretty impressive. It was pretty huge and spread out, leaving room for plenty of art. They had one back room that served as a sitting lounge, and another that hooked up an epic cheese filled food spread. So it can definitely house a lot of potential, especially since this was just the first exhibit. *Epic side rant of the the last two new reviews* what's with new Art Galleries skimping out on their web design? I complained about Salt doing it, and it looks like Dalet isn't any different. At least Salt had a little bit of information though, while Dalet's page is just very purple.

Out of all the stops I made this first Friday, I liked Dalet Art Gallery the best. As I explained…read moreto my wife, I like art to be edgy. I find art that doesn't cause controversy boring. I loved this gallery. The inside space unique and beautiful. The majority of the paintings displayed that night were in testament to the female form and were all very well done. I ESPECIALLY liked the beautiful topless girl (painted) displaying herself in the back of the gallery. She was beautiful...and super edgy.