Honestly, I had no idea this place existed until I saw it advertised and decided to check it out…read more I'm glad I did because it ended up being one of the more unique museums I've visited in Philadelphia. It's a relatively small and intimate space. The first floor has a gift shop and an area for workshops and activities, while the galleries are spread throughout the building. When I visited, the first-floor exhibition featured quilts, while the upstairs gallery focused more on themes of American culture. Both were fantastic. The quilt exhibition was probably a traveling show, and I absolutely loved it. I know several quilting enthusiasts, so I have at least some appreciation for how much time, patience, and technical skill goes into creating these pieces. Some of them felt less like blankets and more like full-scale tapestries. The level of detail, color work, and craftsmanship was incredible. The upstairs exhibition had a much stronger political and social commentary element, which I personally enjoyed. Art doesn't have to exist solely to be beautiful or entertaining. It can challenge ideas, express opinions, document experiences, and start conversations. I appreciated that the museum embraced that side of art rather than shying away from it. One of the coolest parts was the workshop area downstairs. There was a small market set up and plenty of people actively crafting and creating things. For a moment I wanted to join in, but the space was packed. Then I watched what everyone was making and quickly realized these people were good. Very good. At that point I remembered I was in a fabric museum and workshop and that my own sewing abilities are... let's politely call them limited. The only thing that felt a little awkward was how often the museum reminded visitors about the recommended donation. I completely understand why. Free museums need support, and I have no issue contributing. It just came up enough times that I started feeling a little self-conscious about it. I was already planning to donate on my way out, but repeated reminders always make me feel slightly uncomfortable even when I understand the reason behind them. Overall, this was a wonderful surprise. Thought-provoking exhibitions, beautiful craftsmanship, active creative spaces, and a welcoming atmosphere. If you're interested in textiles, contemporary art, or just want to discover a museum that's a little different from the usual Philadelphia lineup, it's definitely worth a visit.

Such an amazing exhibition to visit! Big fan of textiles, especially quilts! The staff at the front…read morewas very friendly and the art was lovely to see.

This is a gem of a gallery that features an eclectic mix of pieces. It's run by a co-op and I love…read morethat the artists are often the ones working there. Everyone is always warm and welcoming and the pieces are interesting and well priced. They participate in the first Friday exhibitions too. Make it a point to stop by and specifically check out the pieces by Joe Klaus - stunning! I've got one of his originals in my home and highly recommend.

I still don't get why they kept the 3rd Street name after they moved. But 3rd street is a pretty…read moresolid gallery that offers a lot of diverse art displays that are generally exclusive to Philadelphia. And it's been doing so for awhile. Last months display featured works of art that were themed after horses. There were ink drawings, paintings, and full sized statues that were made out of sticks in honor of them. A couple other themes from the past year have included dragons, and familiar Philadelphia structures that were redesigned to look like fortresses. This month's display featured the awesome art of John James Pron. PHILApocalypse was pretty much multimedia artworks of famous Philly landscapes being destroyed, but pretty much done in dark and amusing fashion. Picture the Waterworks by the Art Museum getting flooded and people surfing during it. Or people camping out in the Academy Of Music while Philly goes underwater, or Spring Garden becoming a desolate wasteland. It's definitely worth checking out.

Located in Philly's oh-so-burgeoning East Kensington neighborhood (Coral Street Arts, 100K House or…read morePBC Brewery anyone??), The Philadelphia Art Hotel is an urban artist residency that provides living and studio space for artists both regional and international... Offering an array of colorfully-dressed digs to its resident artists, PAH additionally organizes talks, workshops and classes for the public at large. Renovations to a newly-established are near complete and the art hotel is gearing up for their next round of artists coming this April...

Cute little gallery in old city. The staff is very welcoming and they host a free preview every…read morefirst Friday. While the place is cozy, there is plenty of srt to be seen on the 1st and 2nd floor. Enjoy!

The thing I love the most about this Gallery is the house band that plays inside it every First…read moreFriday. they play traditional Irish Folk music that is absolutely worth checking out. since the gallery has the look and feel of an old cottage they are right in their element too, and it really makes you feel welcome. The art is also very good too. picture a Philadelphia street that you have walked through on several occasions depicted in a traditional painting. that is usually what you are going to find, so it usually shows these areas as you have never seen them before. It also has some good sculptures and other kinds of artwork on most occasions. The only flaw to this gallery is that it has a very thin stairwell that can make going upstairs a horror-show experience. but the art that is upstairs can be very worth it.

I was gifted an original artwork from India that arrived mailed rolled up in a tube. I have never…read morehad anything professionally framed before but felt like this piece was special enough that it deserved more than my typical ikea diy projects. My original consultation was a fantastic experience, where I was guided through each decision of frame, mat, glass, etc with patience, expertise, and care. I was shown examples of what each choice would look like and there were a wide variety of options for frames. I left feeling like I made the perfect choices in consideration of my aesthetic, budget, and investment in this piece. It was considerably more money than if I had gone to IKEA but I also understood with the fine craftsmanship and expertise of the staff that the price was worth it. When I went to pick it up a few weeks later, it was exactly what I had hoped for. I was able to speak directly with the person who framed the work, who was different from my original consultation, and was thoroughly guided through their process. The piece looks beautiful and I would highly recommend this store for anyone looking to invest in personalized, beautifully crafted framing.

After finding Wendy's shop, I won't go anywhere else in South Philly for framing. She does great…read morework and her prices are even better. She gives her expert opinion on frame colors and mat sizes if they're needed, and I never feel pressured to buy the most expensive option. She even offered some a discounted option if I chose some leftover framing she had laying around. If you're looking for a great framer, go see Wendy and her team.

As Nicole said it's more of a collective than a gallery. With that said Space 1026 has "art" that…read moregoes well beyond the ordinary. one time I came here and saw a really cool mixed media display that featured everyone favorite 8-bit video game characters. another time I came here and saw people in masks parading around like a bunch of weirdos. you never know what your going to get until you walk up those stares (or inquire with the people smoking outside) but it's always going to be pretty damn eclectic. as Nicole says the gallery also doesn't take itself too seriously which I find to be cool. You're never going to find an artist "who really connects with their viewers" try to sell a piece for $100,000 inside. half the time your not even going to find any art for sale. the Space is about the experience you take away from it . Recently Space 1026 has also started housing the occasional concert, and I couldn't think of a better spot for them to happen in. the past couple of bands who have played there have been as quirky as the art on and off the walls.

I have only been to 1026 once. It was for a free silk screening class in May but I found the place…read moreto be pretty cool. I found myself back in my childhood playing around in the pillow fort-like art which was actually hundreds of couch cushions covered and sewn together. There's also the felt fingers coming down the staircase that someone had to painstakingly weave together and the tons of old fat skateboards I found all over the place. Neat. The class was pretty cool. We learned how to make screens and different processes used to print on shirts, paper, etc. The crew was pretty cool and we even walked away with a free print on a blank shirt we brought. The place has a website with a cool blog and links to all their events. I have to go back again sometime; it was quite an experience. http://space1026.com/site.php

The Barnes Foundation is one of my favorite complements to the larger Philadelphia Museum of Art…read morebecause it feels so manageable without sacrificing any sense of significance. The collection is extraordinary, and the story of Albert Barnes and the eventual move to the Parkway makes it one of Philadelphia's more interesting cultural stories. What I love most, though, is the building itself: the warm limestone, water, courtyards, and low-slung modernism somehow remind me of contemporary Mexican architecture, almost something you might encounter in Cabo. Its location beside the Rodin Museum also makes it a perfect stopping point between the Art Museum and City Hall. My wife and I have brought our young daughter here, enjoyed the art, and then stopped for coffee at the café and sat outside afterward. We both commented on how transportive that outdoor area feels, with the water, architecture, and landscaping briefly making it seem as though you are somewhere else entirely. Cool people, good vibes, beautiful surroundings, and a collection important enough to reward serious attention without taking an entire day to absorb. The Barnes is one of those Philadelphia institutions that works equally well as a destination, a family outing, or simply a beautiful place to spend a few hours.

An ad for this museum came up in my Instagram feed and I'm glad it did. I put it on my list when I…read morewas visiting Philly recently. This is more like a house than a museum and the walls are filled with art from top names in the art world. I had a very nice but rushed visit cause I was trying to visit the Philly art museum before it closed as well. Next time I'll take more time. Cezanne, Manet and Picasso. The staff was nice to deal with too.

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.