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.

Seraphin Gallery is conveniently located in Center City. It always seems to have good shows and…read morethere are of a variety - I never know what will be there next! Anyone interested in art, contemporary or 20th century, should visit Seraphin.

Very nice gallery space and lots of great art. However, the man that runs the gallery is rude-only…read morespeaks to certain people and ignores others. He's ignored a couple serious potential buyers.

Be the first to review another one of South Philly's finest art galleries? Don't mind if I do!…read more Jed Williams Gallery is one of those places that I've stumbled upon on the tail end of my First Friday rendezvous or when I was just exploring out of the blue. But even though its always been towards the tail end I've always encountered engaging artists who were willing to give a good showcase of their work. It's all part of the standard from this gallery found by a local painter and visual artist who wanted to pay his space forward to other Philly artists. Since those first stumbles I've gotten more familiar with the space and took in eclectic curated art shows that paid theme to various seasons and holidays. Halloween featured some awesomely spooky art, and the upcoming Holiday Gratitude exhibit will play to the theme even further with a merry holiday party and 50% art sale on December 14th. toss in the occasional workshop, benefit, and events that promote local art and social organizations, and you have a Philly institution.

Jed Williams Gallery exhibits the works of known and emerging Philadelphia…read moreartists. Its opening receptions are as lively as the works on display, often accompanied with live music. Its owner himself is an accomplished artist.

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 stopped in here with a friend and was pleasantly surprised by the interior of this gallery. There…read morewere only a handful of pieces on display and they were all very impressive (and expensive!). They have a second floor, too, that they use for larger exhibits, so I hope to get up there at some point. it's free!

Nice gallery featuring contemporary and modern works from some relatively well known artists. They…read moregallery has a smaller main gallery downstairs and a larger gallery upstairs. Exhibits generally change on a monthly basis so stop back often, as some are really interesting, such as the video installations of Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib they had on display last year. It's free and located on the southeast corner of Washington Square Park.

Nice gallery associated with Drexel University featuring rotating exhibitions including regional…read moreand experimental art in all contemporary mediums including digital, video, sculpture, photography, graphics, and fashion design. The art is always fun too see (even if it's about serial killers or women's dresses!) and the student employees are very friendly. Well worth a visit!

Came here for the ROCKERS Bob Gruen Rock n' Roll Photography exhibit. I found this cool spot while…read morelooking for upcoming music events in the city and had never heard about the Pearlstein Gallery. When I saw it was free, I knew I had to come. I came via public trans - super easy to get to. It's right off the 34th st MFL stop. My friend and I were greeted by two Drexel students working the front desk who were super friendly and asked if we had visited there before. When we said no, they asked how we found out about it and proceeded to tell us more about the Gallery and previous exhibits they've had. Since it's Drexel-affiliated, some previous exhibits had to do with Drexel history, which isn't something I'd be super into, but I'm definitely excited to see what they will show here in the future. As a huge music fan, seeing photographs of some of my favorites (Queen, Elton John, etc.) were super cool. Especially when you think about the fact that technology back then isn't what it is now. I loved that they played a video about Bob Gruen, interviewing him and some of the musicians featured in his photos about his work. They are having an event with the author this week and I am really considering coming back. My favorite part was the bedroom replica with the walls covered in posters, photos, and clippings. Check this exhibit our before it leaves in May! Update - came back for the interview event with Bob himself. Kudos to the Gallery for pulling off this great event and book signing. It really brought his art to life!

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.

I love stopping by this gallery during First Fridays. Being located in Old City, it's housed in one…read moreof those beautiful historic buildings that immediately sets the mood. The original wooden floors are gorgeous and somehow make the space feel both elegant and welcoming at the same time. What keeps bringing me back, though, is the art. While the gallery is known for contemporary two-dimensional work, I always seem to find pieces that push beyond that. There are often sculptural elements, installations, and mixed-media works that spill into the gallery space and make the experience feel much more immersive than simply looking at paintings on a wall. The artists and exhibitions vary quite a bit, from highly abstract works to pieces that are more realistic and representational. The common thread seems to be experimentation. There's usually some interesting combination of materials, textures, or techniques that makes you stop, look closer, and think about what you're seeing. One of my favorite parts is the little nook toward the back of the gallery. There always seems to be something unexpected tucked away there, often a kinetic or three-dimensional piece that adds another layer to the exhibition. It's become the first place I check whenever I visit. Philadelphia has a lot of great galleries, but Pentimenti stands out because it consistently showcases work that feels thoughtful, sensory, and a little different from everything around it. Always a fun stop during First Fridays and one I find myself returning to again and again.

So putting up a First Friday event has me in the mood to review another spot that will surely be…read morevisited while many galleries that have offered viewing like it have disappeared (Lineage, Qbix, etc.) Pentimenti has really held onto its own and managed to bring in some diverse art. while it's on the small side it manages to be a two sided gallery that puts on two different displays monthly. This month featured the smooth and striated painting styles of Jacob Lunderby. His mountainsides almost had you staring into the horizon line. it also had the bizarre video arts of Tim Tate. When I peered into one of his video cylinders I saw the close up shot of a nude man and promptly ran away. but when I peered into others i saw hands typing, people dancing and then some. talk about art that's more than meets the eye.