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 was lucky to spend time with the gallery director, Lori, looking through their extensive…read morecollection of botanical art. The building and space is a treasure chest of interesting maps and books - you could spend hours there! Can't wait to go back!

Several years ago we hired the Arader Gallery to clean and restore two rare lithographs, both…read moresigned. One by Rosa Bonheur, the other by Richard Operti. In the case of the Operti, they destroyed the signature. Both were returned torn, creased, and in worse condition than when they were dropped off. If you want your work destroyed, definatly use this place,. If not, move on.

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.

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.

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.

I have been coming to events at OCJAC since 2014. Rabbi and Rebbetzin Wircberg are true assets to…read morethe local Jewish community.

What a great gallery in Philly. The space is very inviting. The art work was amazing. I…read moreparticularly liked the pastels by Linda Robinson

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.

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.

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!