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Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens Created by artist Isaiah Zagar, PMG is a nonprofit art museum that inspires creativity and community

Covering half a city block of indoor and outdoor space, Philadelphia's Magic Gardens (PMG) glistens with creativity. Artist Isaiah Zagar began tiling South Street in the 1960s and never stopped, eventually building a mosaic garden out of ceramic shards, broken mirrors, bicycle spokes, and vivid splashes of dyed cement. The tiled passages of PMG weave over and under ground, and perhaps more than anything through the mind of a dedicated and obsessed artist.

Operating as usual

Great article about Rosa Leff and her current exhibition "All the Right Places" in Al DÍA News Media! Read about the sho...
03/20/2023
Rosa Leff and her ‘papel picado’ art

Great article about Rosa Leff and her current exhibition "All the Right Places" in Al DÍA News Media! Read about the show below, then come check it out in our galleries!

The artist will close her exhibit at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens on Tuesday, May 14. Don't miss it!

There are art environments (permanent large-scale artworks that encompass an entire space and surround the viewer) all a...
03/19/2023
Art Environment Creators - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

There are art environments (permanent large-scale artworks that encompass an entire space and surround the viewer) all around the world. Many of these places are referenced on the walls of Philadelphia's Magic Gardens. Visit our website to learn a little more about these unique spaces!

PMG Creator Isaiah Zagar makes many references to other artists and the art environments throughout Philadelphia's Magic Gardens.

Have you been in to see "All the Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff" yet? These hand-cut paper works will blow your socks ...
03/18/2023
All The Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Have you been in to see "All the Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff" yet? These hand-cut paper works will blow your socks off! View this exhibition in our galleries through May 14!

Using only a single sheet of paper and a knife artist Rosa Leff creates intricate cityscapes based on photos she’s taken both at home and around the world.

We're excited to participate in South Street Headhouse District's Egg Hunt again this year! Seek out over 50 expertly de...
03/17/2023
South Street Egg Hunt - Find Big Eggs, Win Big Prizes!

We're excited to participate in South Street Headhouse District's Egg Hunt again this year! Seek out over 50 expertly decorated eggs throughout the district and win fabulous prizes! The more eggs you find, the better chance you have to win! See more details below!

Join the Egg Hunt! Over fifty eggs will be hidden in storefronts on and around South Street, and every egg you find is a chance to win!

It's been a little bit chilly out lately, so keep your noggin cozy with one of our new beanies! They're a nice bright ye...
03/16/2023
PMG Beanie

It's been a little bit chilly out lately, so keep your noggin cozy with one of our new beanies! They're a nice bright yellow color, perfect for cool spring weather. Find them online or in-person!

Durable wool fiber beanie in golden yellow with embroidered PMG logo

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens isn't the only property fully covered in mosaics - not by a long shot! We recently found ou...
03/15/2023
My Home, NC | The Mosaic House in Durham | PBS

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens isn't the only property fully covered in mosaics - not by a long shot! We recently found out about this incredible mosaicked home in Durham, North Carolina, created by Gene Dillard. Watch this video to discover more!

Discover the story behind the Mosaic House in Durham.

If you missed out on this month's panel mosaic workshop signups are now open for May! In this two week workshop PMG’s Pr...
03/14/2023
Two Week Panel Mosaic Workshop - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

If you missed out on this month's panel mosaic workshop signups are now open for May! In this two week workshop PMG’s Preservation Team will lead you in creating your own 20” x 20” mosaic panel using the Zagar Method of mosaicking. Learn to break tile and cut mirror, plan your design, place tiles, and grout! Find more details and register on our website:

Thursdays, May 18 & 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $125/participant$100/PMG member

Get on out and make a mosaic medallion with us today! PECO Family Jams is our monthly event where we make art and provid...
03/12/2023
PECO Family Jams: Mosaic Medallions - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Get on out and make a mosaic medallion with us today! PECO Family Jams is our monthly event where we make art and provide family-friendly tours. Bring the fam and enjoy this program from Noon - 4:00, free with admission!

PECO Family Jams are PMG’s one-of-a-kind, family-oriented programs, featured every second Sunday of the month between NOON and 4:00 PM

Did you know there's way more to see at the Philadelphia Flower Show beyond flowers? For example, you can view these inc...
03/11/2023
Celebrating “Mural Magic” At the 2023 Flower Show

Did you know there's way more to see at the Philadelphia Flower Show beyond flowers? For example, you can view these incredible floral-themed murals created by four local artists! Read more below, then head on over to the show, which is going on through this weekend!

For the last three years, Streets Dept Walls has been excited to curate projects for the Philadelphia Flower Show. And this year, we created a project with Mural Arts Philadelphia to celebrate the …

"To experience Pasaquan is to be completely enveloped. You are covered, swarmed, swallowed, by St. EOM’s irrepressible v...
03/10/2023

"To experience Pasaquan is to be completely enveloped. You are covered, swarmed, swallowed, by St. EOM’s irrepressible vision. We wanted to capture such a feeling. We wanted to use that sensibility as a pathway for making our own portal connecting our lives in Wisconsin with this incredible site one thousand miles away in Georgia." We love that the crew at SPACES Archives created a really cool site-specific installation at Pasaquan! Take a peek!

https://spacesarchives.org/resources/blog/portal-to-pasaquan/

Our friends Craft NOW Philadelphia and Nextfab Studio have partnered to present the second annual Tools of the Trades co...
03/09/2023

Our friends Craft NOW Philadelphia and Nextfab Studio have partnered to present the second annual Tools of the Trades conference, a first-of-its-kind conference that aims to connect artisans to business resources, experts, and peers in the craft community. Attendees will have access to:
🛠 20+ expert presenters drawing from their lived experience as makers and artists to break intimidating topics down into practical steps.
🛠 14 interactive webinars and digital panel discussions with dedicated time and space to engage with presenters and audience members.
🛠 Virtual and in-person networking with a community of like-minded makers and crafters actively working in the field.
🛠 An invitation to promote your products, practice, or small business in our Post-Event Directory shared among registrants and in CraftNOW and NextFab media.
🛠 Our Digital Tool Kit with discounts at suppliers and organizations, recommended
resources from speakers, and registration links for one-on-one office hours.
🛠 All recordings of the sessions are made available only for ticket holders in the days that follow the conference.
🛠 Opportunities to engage at in-person workshops and Happy Hour on the Saturday following the digital programming.

Learn more and register at: https://www.toolsofthetrades.org/

This Sunday, March 12, we're making mosaic medallions at PECO Family Jams! Come and get creative from Noon - 4:00 p.m. a...
03/08/2023
PECO Family Jams: Mosaic Medallions - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

This Sunday, March 12, we're making mosaic medallions at PECO Family Jams! Come and get creative from Noon - 4:00 p.m. and also enjoy some family-friendly tours, all free with admission!

PECO Family Jams are PMG’s one-of-a-kind, family-oriented programs, featured every second Sunday of the month between NOON and 4:00 PM

Did you know there's over 200 mosaic murals created by Isaiah Zagar around the city? Use our interactive mosaic mural ma...
03/06/2023
Mosaic Mural Map - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Did you know there's over 200 mosaic murals created by Isaiah Zagar around the city? Use our interactive mosaic mural map to discover them and learn more about them!

This interactive map is part of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens’ preservation initiative. This map is a work in progress,...

Great news about Ron's Place, the art environment that was in danger of being destroyed in the UK: it was saved by a las...
03/04/2023
Ron’s Place: cash loan saves palace of outsider art at last minute

Great news about Ron's Place, the art environment that was in danger of being destroyed in the UK: it was saved by a last minute loan! Ron Gittins secretly covered his flat in art over a 30 year span, but after he passed away the fate of his creation was uncertain. Now, thanks to the loan from a benefactor named Tamsin Wimhurst, the space can be saved to become a community resource promoting art and mental health awareness.

Benefactor’s offer allays fears sale of building could strip Birkenhead flat of works built up over 30 years

TONIGHT! Join us for the public opening reception for "All the Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff" from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.! ...
03/03/2023
All The Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

TONIGHT! Join us for the public opening reception for "All the Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff" from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.! Be one of the first to see these amazing cut paper artworks, enjoy some light refreshments, and chat with the artist!

Using only a single sheet of paper and a knife artist Rosa Leff creates intricate cityscapes based on photos she’s taken both at home and around the world.

03/02/2023
"All the Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff"

Rosa Leff uses a single sheet of paper and an exacto knife to create highly detailed and complex works of art. Watch this short video to learn more about her process and inspirations, and then come see her work in person in our galleries! "All the Right Places" opens tomorrow, March 3!

Video by EYELUM

If you're not able to experience Philadelphia's Magic Gardens in person, our virtual tour is the next best thing! Click ...
03/01/2023

If you're not able to experience Philadelphia's Magic Gardens in person, our virtual tour is the next best thing! Click around and explore!

http://bit.ly/3ICTUkp

This Friday "All the Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff" opens in our galleries! Created using a single sheet of paper and...
02/27/2023
All The Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

This Friday "All the Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff" opens in our galleries! Created using a single sheet of paper and an exacto knife, Leff's cityscapes are incredibly detailed and impressive. Join us for the public opening reception from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Friday, March 3!

Using only a single sheet of paper and a knife artist Rosa Leff creates intricate cityscapes based on photos she’s taken both at home and around the world.

Mexican papier-mâché art can take many forms: from masks, to alebrijes, to piñatas.  We wish we lived closer to the Muse...
02/26/2023
The Vivid Offerings of Mexican Papier-Mâché

Mexican papier-mâché art can take many forms: from masks, to alebrijes, to piñatas. We wish we lived closer to the Museum of International Folk Art to check out this show of vibrant papier-mâché works, but we'll settle for drooling over the photos!

La Cartonería Mexicana is drawn from traditional masks, sculptures, toys, and piñatas.

We're pleased to share this short video we recently created that provides an introduction to Philadelphia's Magic Garden...
02/25/2023
Introduction to Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

We're pleased to share this short video we recently created that provides an introduction to Philadelphia's Magic Gardens and founding artist Isaiah Zagar. Give it a watch to learn some of the fascinating history of our space!

Learn about the stories and history behind Philadelphia's Magic Gardens.

Have we mentioned lately how much we love Bisa Butler's quilts? They're like incredible fabric mosaics! Butler's works c...
02/22/2023
Bisa Butler's Vibrant Quilted Portraits Share Extraordinary Stories of Black Americans — Colossal

Have we mentioned lately how much we love Bisa Butler's quilts? They're like incredible fabric mosaics! Butler's works center on recognizing individuals' "accomplishments throughout history, often those of regular people who were extraordinarily courageous in the face of immense adversity." They're truly amazing to behold!

At the core of Bisa Butler's practice is a recognition of individuals' accomplishments throughout history.

We're looking for a few more Teaching Artists for our Twilight in the Gardens program this summer! Each Twilight event f...
02/21/2023
Twilight in the Gardens - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

We're looking for a few more Teaching Artists for our Twilight in the Gardens program this summer! Each Twilight event features a different artist who leads a hands-on art activity with our guests. It can be anything from printmaking, to collage, to mini-weavings, and everything in between! Email [email protected] for more information!

Fourth Fridays, May – October 7:00 – 10:00 PM $25/ Adults $20/ Students & Seniors $16/ PMG Members Join Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) for our Twilight in the Gardens series! On these special evenings experience PMG after hours with a live musical performance, guided art workshop, and casu...

We are open today for our usual hours of 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.! We're also offering extra guided tours at 10:00 a.m. an...
02/20/2023
Home - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

We are open today for our usual hours of 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.! We're also offering extra guided tours at 10:00 a.m. and Noon. Visit our website to purchase your general admission or tour tickets, and we'll see you soon!

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) is a mosaicked visionary art environment, gallery, and community arts center that preserves, interprets, and provides access to Isaiah Zagar’s unique mosaic art environment and his public murals.

We're getting really excited for our next exhibition, "All the Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff!" Using only a single sh...
02/19/2023
All The Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

We're getting really excited for our next exhibition, "All the Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff!" Using only a single sheet of paper and a knife artist Rosa Leff creates intricate cityscapes. While studying papel picado (cut paper) in Puebla, Mexico, Leff contemplated the complexity of Mexican and American cultures. In this exhibition she takes a deep look into these cultures and the misconceptions that can often arise from stereotypes, and transforms these observations into highly-detailed cut paper artworks.

Come out for the opening reception on Friday, March 3, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.!

Using only a single sheet of paper and a knife artist Rosa Leff creates intricate cityscapes based on photos she’s taken both at home and around the world.

It's hard to believe, but there's only about a week left to see "In Between and All at Once: Works by Chloe Luisa Piñero...
02/18/2023
In Between and All at Once: Works by Chloe Luisa Piñero - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

It's hard to believe, but there's only about a week left to see "In Between and All at Once: Works by Chloe Luisa Piñero" in our galleries! We absolutely love this dynamic collection of mixed media works, and we know you will too! Come out and view the show before it comes down on February 26!

Chloe Luisa Piñero examines her identity in relation to sexuality, social class, and cultural norms around femininity and gender.

Once you get past its unfortunate name, "Tramp Art" is actually pretty cool. Popular in the early 1900s, this craft was ...
02/17/2023
A Brief Compendium of Tramp Art

Once you get past its unfortunate name, "Tramp Art" is actually pretty cool. Popular in the early 1900s, this craft was created largely by untrained artists who used pocket knives to intricately carve cigar boxes. Learn more below!

What shall we keep a keen eye out for at our next expedition to the flea market? Tramp Art! No I haven't just insulted you, I'm talking about the little-known and often misunderstood branch of outsider art; curiously whittled wood works intricately carved from discarded cigar boxes – that's right,...

Our Education Team needs tiles! They've got a lot of programming coming up and are in need of tiles to use in art activi...
02/16/2023

Our Education Team needs tiles! They've got a lot of programming coming up and are in need of tiles to use in art activities. Colorful and/or patterned tiles are preferred, but we'll accept anything! Please email [email protected] if you have some to donate. Thank you!

There are many many artists from whom PMG Founder Isaiah Zagar draws inspiration. One of these artists is Jasper Johns (...
02/15/2023
Jasper Johns - paintings, biography, quotes of Jasper Johns

There are many many artists from whom PMG Founder Isaiah Zagar draws inspiration. One of these artists is Jasper Johns (b. 1930) who is an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker.

“I prefer work that appears to come out of a changing focus.” Zagar includes this quote from Johns at PMG, which continues, “not just one relationship or even a number of them but constantly changing and shifting relationships to things in terms of focus.”

Learn more about Jasper Johns below!

Jasper Johns was an artist that came onto the scene in the 1950s. Much of the work that he created led the American public away from the expressionism form, and towards an art movement or form known as the concrete. He would depict many flags and maps, and this created a more distinct style with the...

The battle for the Bride is reaching an end and is resulting in a loss. As our Executive Director, Emily Smith, put it, ...
02/14/2023
New plans for a short-term rental building would demolish the Painted Bride’s signature mural in Old City

The battle for the Bride is reaching an end and is resulting in a loss. As our Executive Director, Emily Smith, put it, "the planned destruction of the Painted Bride mosaic is a case of NIMBY-ism at its most tragic. No one wins here.” Read on to learn more.

In June, a Philadelphia judge rejected the developer's plans for apartments that would have preserved the Painted Bride Art Center's signature mosaic by artist Isaiah Zagar in Old City.

Our Valentine's Day Tours are officially sold out! We look forward to seeing those of you who signed up! ❤🥰💗
02/13/2023
Valentine's Day Tours- SOLD OUT! - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Our Valentine's Day Tours are officially sold out! We look forward to seeing those of you who signed up! ❤🥰💗

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 6:30 & 8:00 PM- SOLD OUT! $25/ Person $16/ Member Fall in love all over again this year at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. Join us for an intimate tour focusing on the many romantic aspects of our glittering galleries and labyrinth. Learn about the love story of PMG creato...

Before you hunker down to cheer on the Birds come on out and craft with us! We'll be making found-object robots today fr...
02/12/2023
PECO Family Jams: Found-Object Robots - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Before you hunker down to cheer on the Birds come on out and craft with us! We'll be making found-object robots today from Noon - 4:00 p.m.. We've got everything you need to make your own fun creation, and it's free with admission!

PECO Family Jams are PMG’s one-of-a-kind, family-oriented programs, featured every second Sunday of the month between NOON and 4:00 PM

Need a unique gift for your Valentine? We've got you! We have a great selection of fun Philadelphia's Magic Gardens item...
02/11/2023

Need a unique gift for your Valentine? We've got you! We have a great selection of fun Philadelphia's Magic Gardens items, colorful folk art, and eclectic locally-made jewelry. Some items are available in-store only, so stop by!

http://phillymagicgardens.bigcartel.com/

South Street Headhouse District has put together a self-guided tour highlight Black History on South Street! Use their i...
02/10/2023
Black History on South Street: A Self-Guided Tour - South Street

South Street Headhouse District has put together a self-guided tour highlight Black History on South Street! Use their interactive map to discover the stories behind 11 different locations:

Black History and South Street History are inseperable: from the all-Black Engine #11 fire station, to the Seventh Ward and sociological studies of W.E.B. DuBois; from Black community members like educator and civil rights activist Octavius V. Catto, artist Conrad Booker, and skateboarder Roger Brow...

Today our management team is taking a trip down to Baltimore to visit the American Visionary Art Museum! While there we'...
02/09/2023
ABUNDANCE: Too Much, Too Little, Just Right

Today our management team is taking a trip down to Baltimore to visit the American Visionary Art Museum! While there we're going to check out their current exhibition, "Abundance," which "is a wildly joyful, community-building contemplation of just what constitutes real wealth by exploring what lies at the heart of deep satisfaction, productive happiness, and gratefulness, both individual and collective." It features the work of some of our favorite artists, like Nek Chand Saini and Rosa Leff! Follow us on Instagram to see some photos from our visit!

AVAM’s 27th original thematic mega-exhibition is a wildly joyful, community-building contemplation of just what constitutes real wealth by exploring what lies at the heart of deep satisfaction, productive happiness, and gratefulness, both individual and collective. Nowhere is the quest for persona...

Make a funky found-object robot at this weekend's Family Jams! We'll give you all the supplies you need to decorate your...
02/08/2023
PECO Family Jams: Found-Object Robots - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Make a funky found-object robot at this weekend's Family Jams! We'll give you all the supplies you need to decorate your own little robotic friend, including buttons, beads, tiles and more. Noon - 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 12, free with admission!

PECO Family Jams are PMG’s one-of-a-kind, family-oriented programs, featured every second Sunday of the month between NOON and 4:00 PM

Another art environment needs your support! Ron's Place, located near Liverpool, England, is a unique and internationall...
02/07/2023
Saving Ron's Place for the nation, organized by Jan Williams

Another art environment needs your support! Ron's Place, located near Liverpool, England, is a unique and internationally acclaimed ‘visionary art environment' created by Ron Gittins (1939 - 2019). Volunteers have been paying the rent since Ron's passing, but now the landlord has put the building up for sale and the site is at risk of demolition. Visit the GoFundMe below for more information and to donate!

Ron’s Place is a unique and internationally acclaimed ‘visionary art environment' crea… Jan Williams needs your support for Saving Ron's Place for the nation

Address

1020 South Street
Philadelphia, PA
19147

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 6pm
Wednesday 11am - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 6pm
Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 6pm

Telephone

+1 215-733-0390

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James Hampton was a fascinating, and somewhat mysterious, artist who created a beautiful art installation in his rented workshop which wasn't discovered until after he passed away. It's now an important piece in the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Watch this short video to learn about Hampton and his creation, and look for his name in our middle gallery on your next visit!
Have you explored the art environment creators page on our website? It's a great way to discover more about the many different art environments that are referenced on the walls here at PMG!
Happy Valentine's Day! If you're still looking for something to do with your significant other, our 8:00 PM Valentine's Day Tour still has a few spots left! Sign up now and enjoy a romantic tour of Philadelphia's Magic Gardens!
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens was created using a wide assortment of materials salvaged and donated by members of the surrounding community. Materials such as broken mirrors, leftover tiles, cracked dishes, used bottles, and bent bicycle wheels would have been added to landfill. Instead, Isaiah Zagar used them to create PMG and over 200 mosaicked murals throughout Philadelphia, as well as the 10,000-square foot warehouse he is currently transforming. This month’s program was born from a large donation of square white tiles which we will turn into prized keepsakes through an image-transfer technique.

PECO Family Jams are PMG’s one-of-a-kind, family-oriented programs, featured every second Sunday of the month between NOON and 4:00 PM.
One of the inspirations behind Jan Huling's artwork is Mexican alebrije sculptures, and we can definitely see the connection! Her beaded sculptures certainly include the same elements of intricacy and fantasy. Take a peek!
This Sunday, February 13, is PECO Family Jams from Noon - 4:00 PM! Visitors can pick up a FREE craft kit to make an image-transfer tile. Head to our website or check here on Facebook for a how-to video that will be posted at Noon that day!
Don't miss your chance to take one of our unique guided tours on Valentine's Day! Join us for an intimate tour focusing on the many romantic aspects of our glittering galleries and labyrinth. Space is limited, reserve your tickets now:
https://www.phillymagicgardens.org/public-programs/public-tours/valentines-day-tours/
In Guatemala, a fleet of colorfully adorned school buses, known as chicken buses, are the main form of public transportation. Their designs are as varied as their drivers and offer a glimpse into life in Central America.
Looking for ideas of what to do on and around Valentine's Day? Visit Philly has your list, and it includes our romantic tours of PMG! ❤
Happy ! Be sure to use our interactive mosaic mural map on our website when you're out walking in the neighborhood. You never know when you'll come across a mosaic surprise!
Like the mosaics here at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, artist Kristen Meyer takes every-day and unconventional objects and arranges them into beautiful compositions. We particularly love her pieces made out of eggshells!
Raheem "King" Saladeen is known worldwide for his art, but his heart and roots are here in Philly. Read more about how he got started as an artist and a good friend that cheered him on:
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Other Art Museums in Philadelphia (show all)

The Seraphin Gallery Bridgette Mayer Art Advisors Wonderspaces Philadelphia Philadelphia Art Alliance at University of the Arts The Fabric Workshop and Museum Nesh 1 City African American Museum in Philadelphia PAFA Lenfest Plaza Events at PAFA; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Brodsky Center at PAFA PAFA The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts PAFA Alumni Larry Becker Contemporary Art Pentimenti Gallery The Galleries at Moore