Our Insider Guide to Philadelphia

June 20th, 2025

Philly is having a moment. (Okay, it always has.)

In our ongoing travel series, we explore creatively vibrant cities through the eyes of artists, gallerists, and insiders who know them best. For our next installment, we head East to the City of Brotherly Love, soft pretzels, and home to over 4,000 murals.

Welcome to Philadelphia: a city where grit meets beauty, where revolutionary spirit pulses through both history and contemporary art. With its layered stories, colorful walls, and unapologetic charm, Philadelphia continues to inspire generations of artists.

Here are just a few of our favorite art stops around the city:

Vibrant street art adorns a gritty South Philly alleyway, with colorful murals and eclectic graffiti covering worn brick buildings beneath a sunny blue sky.

Street Art & Murals

Home to more than 4,000 public murals, Philadelphia is proudly known as the Mural Capital of the World. Thanks to Mural Arts Philadelphia, the largest public art program in the country, entire neighborhoods have become open-air galleries.

From bold typographic messages to hyper-realistic portraits of community leaders, Philly’s walls tell stories of resilience, justice, heritage, and hope. Keep your eyes peeled as you explore districts like Fishtown, South Philly, and Kensington—some of the most densely painted areas in the city.

Hot Tip: Take a Mural Arts walking or bike tour to uncover the history and artist stories behind these creations.

PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES – Aug 10, 2018: A vertical shot of Philadelphia’s Magic Garden, USA

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

Created by artist Isaiah Zagar, the Philadelphia Magic Gardens is a glittering, immersive labyrinth of mirrors, tiles, poetry, found objects, and folk art. It’s a whimsical, maximalist celebration of self-expression and community. It’s a place where every surface has something to say.

Located on South Street, this indoor-outdoor visionary environment spans half a city block and has become a pilgrimage site for artists and dreamers alike. Trust us: photos don’t do it justice.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

You might recognize it as the backdrop for Rocky Balboa’s legendary run, but the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a heavyweight in its own right: one of the largest and most comprehensive art museums in the country.

Inside, you’ll find everything from medieval armor to Impressionist masterpieces, Duchamp to Duchamp-inspired fashion. The museum’s contemporary wing is especially exciting, spotlighting bold voices shaping the future of art.

Whether you’re an art history buff or just there to snap a photo at the top of the steps, this landmark is a must.

PHILADELPHIA, USA – MAR 24, 2019 : The LOVE Park, officially known as John F Kennedy Plaza located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The park is nicknamed Love Park for its reproduction of Robert Indiana

LOVE Sculpture

Nestled in LOVE Park (officially JFK Plaza), the iconic red LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana is one of Philadelphia’s most beloved landmarks. It’s simple. It’s iconic. It’s the kind of art that invites smiles, selfies, and sweet moments of pause in the middle of the city hustle.

Plus, it’s surrounded by fountains and often flanked by pop-up art installations and food trucks. It’s a fitting homage to Philly’s creative spirit!

Philly is more than a city, it’s a canvas. A place where revolutionaries once gathered now stands as a haven for artists of every medium. From the worn cobblestones of Old City to the colorful corridors of South Street, inspiration here is endless.

So lace up your sneakers, grab a hoagie (and your sketchbook), and hit the streets. Art is everywhere in this city, you just have to look!

Written by Madison Baer, Gallery MAR