Corridor is an amazing three floor gallery in the heart of Fishtown, complete with a mix of local…read moreartists and rotating exhibitions. I spent about half an hour wandering through the building and really enjoyed the setup and curatorial work. Staff here is super helpful in terms of outlining what you're about to take in, and the gallery itself is free to walk into. Make sure to add this to your Fishtown itinerary! I joined the mailing list to stay up to date on future openings and look forward to being a regular supporter of this community gem.

Hidden gem in Fishtown. If you don't know it's there, you may not notice it. Beautiful, creative…read morepieces on 3 floors. Next time you're bar hopping or shopping, head down Frankford Ave. I stopped in for the Deconstruct exhibition opening. The 1st floor was all pencil and charcoal work by Arinze Stanley, and I believe there was one of his on the 3rd too. Such detail, not what I expected. Communion and Fruits of Labor were my 2 favorites of his. Powerful message with each. Amazing art throughout the gallery. Oil, acrylic, canvas, wood, I think metal. The artists did a phenomenal job with the faces. Variety of work displayed. I love contemporary art. Definitely recommend checking this place out!

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.

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 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.

Interesting exhibits, WONDERFUL interior. I intend on…read morerenting out this space if I ever decide to get married. (Already looked into it, and yes you can rent it) Grand staircase, absolutely romantic cafe outside for lunch in the summer. Food was decent, but the blueberry lemonade was notable.

I attended the opening for the installation that is there until early March. This is a really…read moreamazing space. There were two floors open with art. The first floor is basically sitting rooms that were converted into small gallery spaces. The second floor has hallways and rooms that allow you to peruse the art in a logical circuit. There was free wine, which is always nice. There appears to be something like a cafe in the rear, which is where the wine was. I had a really pleasant time exploring. Highly recommended for when you want to get your arts and culture on.

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.

Bernard Katz Glass is a very ethical and conscientious custom glass blowing business. Their work is…read moreextremely beautiful and handcrafted with skill. I have found them to be willing to do all that they can to meet their clients needs.

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!

A wholly original and beautiful little spot with an incredible story behind it. Really cool to see…read morehow one man's vision endured against long odds and now has left a great space for other artists to share their work too. The gift shop also has great, unique stuff. Worth making a little trip here and strolling the neighborhood to see the vendors and Isaiah's other work nearby. Pro tip: Get your ticket in the gift shop and don't worry about timed entry!

We love quirky places like this. There are a number of these "weird" art installations in our home…read morestate of Wisconsin so we knew we had to visit this when in Philadelphia. We bought timed ticks online a couple of weeks in advance - with our reciprocal museum membership we got free admission. The history of this place and the artist who created it is fascinating. There is so much to see in each area and around each corner. It's easy to miss stuff. Don't forget to walk around the block to see the exteriors of nearby buildings. They have all been given the "mosaic" treatment! We were here a bit under one hour. Definitely worth a stop!

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.

Popped in to thaw my dawgs and was greeted by a lovely giftshop. Lots of gorgeous prints and…read morejewlerly made by local artists and my favorite-- free postcards!! I was hoping to see the workshop, but the day I went only the 1st floor exhibits and the 8th floors were open to the public. I recently got back into sewing, so this was a great opportunity to explore new ways fabric has been used for expression.