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 visit museums without pre-conceived notions, reading reviews generally after the fact. PAFA --…read moreas it's known -- is a good one. Founded in 1805 the academy is the first school and museum of fine arts in the United States. The historic landmark building is closed for renovations with three stories of exhibits now housed in their Hamilton Building (which is NOT named for Alexander!) Several things impacted me: the galleries are wide open, light and airy. A pleasure to walk through. A number of items from the Atwater Kent collection -- formerly the Philadelphia History Museum -- are on display. The diverse collection ranges from baseball, department stores (Wanamakers, anyone?), civil rights ... the list goes on. There is student and alumni art for sale and casts of Greek and Roman antiquity located in an active student workspace. As with most museums, exhibits change. The gift store with its friendly proprietor, is as good as any I've been to. A beautifully curated collection, and after Thanksgiving, I believe everything is discounted 30% for the holidays.

The PAFA collection in the renovated 1800s building is amazing!! We really enjoyed the extensive…read moregalleries

I come here all the time for First Fridays and it's honestly one of my favorite small museums in…read morePhiladelphia. The fact that it's generally free makes it even better. What I really appreciate is how often they rotate the exhibits on the first floor. It gives you a reason to keep coming back because there's usually something new to see. The second floor houses the permanent collection, which is thoughtfully curated and showcases just how creative artists can be when working with wood and natural materials. The pieces range from traditional woodworking to contemporary art that really pushes the boundaries of what you expect from the medium. Some are incredibly intricate, others are playful, and some are just plain impressive. It always makes me stop and look a little longer than I planned. The gift shop is also dangerous for my wallet. It's filled with beautiful handcrafted wood pieces, jewelry, home goods, and small art objects that feel more like gallery pieces than souvenirs. Every time I walk through, I find something I want to take home. If money were no object, I'd probably buy half the store. The staff are consistently friendly and welcoming too, which adds to the experience and makes the space feel approachable. It's definitely a niche museum, but that's exactly what makes it special. There aren't many places dedicated to this kind of art, and it's fascinating to see how artists transform wood, fiber, and other natural materials into something completely unexpected. Always a fun visit and one of those hidden gems I find myself coming back to again and again.

The Museum for Art in Wood in Old City is a fun little museum. It's free to visit (although they…read moresuggest a $5 donation), so it's great short stop if you're in the area. It is - as the name suggests - a museum dedicated to art made from wood. There are bowls and vases and sculptures and trinkets and furniture and more. Some of the pieces are beautiful. Some of the pieces made me laugh or smile. And they have a great shop. But since the museum is small and free, I'd suggest popping into the museum, not just the shop. A quirky little art museum, worth fitting into your Old City itinerary if you need a break from revolutionary history, early American history, and the Constitution!

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.

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.

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.

Ugh! I thought that I've already been to the worst gallery that First Friday has to offer…read more(http://www.yelp.com/biz/larry-becker-contemporary-art-philadelphia#hrid:dyhw4pVDk3wufuaulP6heg). But Gallery Joe is absolutely horrendous! I've been here before way back when, but I totally forgot about it because it keeps it's doors closed, or closes early during so many First Friday's. And after revisiting it on on Friday I either wish it would figure out how to step up it's game, or stay that way. Since it's rarely open I thought I was going to be walking into a treat. Instead I came across pencil drawings on white paper that were so beyond plain that they were a joke. Some had squiggly lines that were sort of made to look likes water, while others where a total scribble fest. And some of them even looked like they were made with a Spirograph. Spirograph? SPIROGRAPH! because of how average the art was I thought that it was at least going to be somewhat inexpensive. How much did these Spirograhic scribble fests end up costing? $800-900! What the shit? $900 for something that my cousin's baby daughter could do? Fail! I was so stumped that I thought that it had to be a joke for the month, so I went to check out it's archival room. Inside the Archival room were pieces of paper that where fully shaded in with charcoal. The majority had darker charcoal X's shaded in over grey squares. To the artists credit if I did something like that I probably would have ended up slicing a hole through the paper. But it was still a big pile of crap. lesson learned. on the next tour consider this place skipped.

I'm not sure what the last reviewer is talking about. This was my favorite gallery waaaay back when…read moreI was in grad school in Philly (2001 - 2003) because I was nearly always inspired by what I saw there, month after month. I went back to visit a year ago (I live on the other side of the country now) and was so pleased to find it just as I remembered. The two artists showing at the time (Allyson Strafella and another whose name I can't recall) were both amazing.

The Rodin Museum is one of those places that makes Philadelphia feel unusually rich culturally:…read moreintimate enough to drop into, yet substantial enough to feel transporting every time. We love it for many of the same reasons we love the Barnes next door. However, the mood is completely different: older, more classical, and distinctly European, with the formal garden and beautiful building framing Rodin's work perfectly. I have visited the Musée Rodin in Paris, housed in the extraordinary Hôtel Biron near Saint-Germain, and seeing his work in that historic house is unforgettable; Philadelphia's museum captures some of that same intimacy in its own way. Its location along the Parkway, beside the Barnes and between the Art Museum and Center City, makes this entire stretch one of my favorite parts of Philadelphia. Summer may be when we love the Rodin most, especially during the happy hours in the garden. We come with our kids when the weather cooperates, enjoy delicious food and wine, people-watch, and watch the grounds turn into a relaxed, genuinely social gathering where everyone seems to be having fun. It is spacious enough to feel festive and welcoming enough that bringing young children never feels awkward. We are always proud to bring visitors here because it shows off our city so beautifully. Great art, a magnificent setting, and a summer evening full of people simply enjoying Philadelphia make the Rodin feel like one of the city's great gifts.

There was no way I was going to miss this gem of a museum. I was somehow able to convince my…read morehusband that it's not your typical art museum with hours and hours of gallery walk throughs. It's a large but centralized collection of Auguste Rodin's sculpture at its finest. It's all displayed in one beautiful building that was built to enhance his art in an indoor and garden setting. It's a "Pay What You Wish" museum. It doesn't matter what day you visit. Just keep in mind that it's closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The suggested fee is $15 for adults. You can also take that amount off your admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) by showing the Rodin admission receipt. Basically, the Rodin Museum is included when you purchase a ticket to the PMA. I must admit that the highlight for me was actually outside in the sculpture garden, which is free to the public. The bronze "Gates of Hell" doors are not to be missed. I'd only seen the plaster cast of it when visiting the Musee D'Orsay with my mother. I remember how impressive it was back then. The bronze doors from the cast are even more impressive. There is so much detail. There are also many larger than life sculptures as you walk through the arch and garden. "The Burghers of Calais" bronze sculpture was another big highlight. Just look at the detail and size of these sculpted hands. It's totally worth a visit no matter how you gain access. It's such a beautiful place. Don't miss it!