Visual art

143 results
Page 1
Large rectangular mosaic, mostly blue with highlights of red, depicts seven people in a compelling abstract style.

Philadelphia Magic Gardens presents Face to Face: Isaiah Zagar’s Mosaicked Portraits

Piecing together an artist’s inspirations

A new show at Philadelphia Magic Gardens shines an often-mysterious spotlight on the people who have influenced iconic Philly mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Reviews 4 minute read
The blue & yellow album book, with a silhouette of Dickerson wearing headphones, on the cement beside bright autumn leaves

Armstead Dickerson presents When I Saw the Sun

Connecting in the polycrisis era

Philadelphia artist Armstead Dickerson explores new modes of expression in his immersive language album When I Saw the Sun, which combines a visual and audio experience. Melissa Strong reviews.
Melissa Strong

Melissa Strong

Reviews 3 minute read
A wooden box like a cathedral window, shutters open, depicts a strange round tower floating on a unicycle & dragon-like wings

The Philadelphia Art Museum presents Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100

Celebrating a Surrealist centennial with 70 artists

Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100 gets its only US stop at the Philadelphia Art Museum. K.A. McFadden reviews.
K.A. McFadden

K.A. McFadden

Reviews 4 minute read
Three colorful Cherry banners on white walls, including a Chinese dragon in orange & yellow, ribbons hanging from its mouth.

Fabric Workshop and Museum presents The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry

Art to alter the course of humanity

Moki Cherry, an interdisciplinary 20th-century Swedish-born artist whose revolutionary work has gained recognition in recent years, gets a new show at the Fabric Workshop and Museum. Aaron Pond reviews.
Aaron Pond

Aaron Pond

Reviews 5 minute read
Entrance of white-walled gallery featuring huge wallpaper photo of elderly Postigo on a motorbike, behind huge diagonal title

Arthur Ross Gallery presents The Postigo Express: Documenting the Basque Conflict in San Sebastián

Capturing the aftermath of fascism

Fernando Postigo Silva fled fascism in Spain to work, study, and start a family in Philadelphia, but returned to Spain for decades as a groundbreaking photojournalist. A new show spotlights his work. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Reviews 5 minute read
Two tiny human figures in circus costumes venture in a nighttime wood of tall, naked, foreboding black trees.

The Barnes Foundation presents Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets

Enchanting mysteries endure

An enchanting new exhibition at the Barnes exploring the weird, unsettling, and captivating world of Henri Rousseau will travel to Paris next spring. Emily Schilling reviews.
Emily Schilling

Emily Schilling

Reviews 5 minute read
A lumpy light-brown “snowperson” creature with button eyes, a top hat, and a snail for hair is both friendly and creepy.

Woodmere Art Museum presents Peter Paone’s Snowpeople

Wintry creatures celebrate the opening of Woodmere’s new Maguire Hall

The Woodmere marks the opening of its new Maguire Hall with prolific Philly painter and printmaker Peter Paone’s Snowpeople, an arresting look at a traditionally cheery sculptural medium. K.A. McFadden reviews.
K.A. McFadden

K.A. McFadden

Reviews 5 minute read

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Large-scale view from aloft of the huge, vibrant mural, with diverse human figures making art and music.

New research from Philly’s Mural Arts Institute proves public art has a huge civic impact

Art is an inalienable human right

An October forum for scientists, scholars, artists, and city leaders explored new insights into just how much murals affect our everyday lives. Anndee Hochman was there.
Anndee Hochman

Anndee Hochman

Features 6 minute read
Ornate, high-ceilinged clothing store with Maitin’s banners in the corridor, featuring a blue & orange swooping eagle.

The University of Pennsylvania presents Sam Maitin in We the People and The Mayor of the Arts

Honoring a world-famous artist who chose Philly

Two exhibitions at UPenn explore the work of Sam Maitin, which is an indelible part of our city’s social, civic, and economic fabric—whether or not we know it. Pamela J. Forsythe.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Reviews 5 minute read
Dynamic painting of an all-Black party that looks like a bar and a DJ in a fenced backyard with starry night above

Brandywine Museum of Art presents Jerrell Gibbs: No Solace in the Shade

Everyone is worthy of a portrait

The Brandywine Museum of Art mounts its first solo presentation of emerging artist, Baltimore luminary Jerrell Gibbs, who is getting his first solo exhibition with echoes of Rockwell, Homer, and the Impressionists. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Reviews 4 minute read