From contemporary pop art to victorian classics, the city of Philadelphia has no shortage of incredible art galleries. In a city well known for its world-class art museum and murals, you can find plenty of local art galleries showcasing both Philly’s up-and-coming artists as well as modern icons.
You can find art galleries scattered around Philadelphia’s grid – almost every neighborhood has a gallery somewhere. Many of the galleries have odd hours or are only available to visit during weekends, exhibitions, or appointments, so be sure to check it out there websites and social media to get the full scoop.
Works on Paper
Works On Paper art gallery was established in 1995 at 1611 Walnut Street, Rittenhouse Square in Center City Philadelphia. For years the gallery has been working with local and international artists spanning the generations. It deserves recognition for its exhibitions featuring emerging artists. Powdered steel sculptures of the popular urban figure Stikman are sold. Works On Paper will have an opening reception on April 30 featuring a multitude of artists with ties to Philadelphia. The exhibition ‘Tied to the Streets’ will commence from that point until the end of June. Open to the public from 11am-5pm Tuesday through Saturday, the gallery produces editions and is known for its Contemporary Blue Chip prints.
Corridor Contemporary
The three-floor gallery is in large part dedicated to masterful pieces of international modern art. But Corridor C
Fishtown-based Art Gallery called Corridor contemporary is one of Philadelphia’s premier modern art galleries. The 3 Floor Gallery on Frankford Ave showcases some of the best local talent as well as international icons. You’ll find a wide variety of styles, including graffiti, abstract, and pop paintings and sculptures.
Recognizable works by Shepard Fairey, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso are often hanging on the walls of Corridor. The gallery supports regional artists as well by helping expose them to international circles. Because of this mission, visitors are able to enjoy the best of all worlds at Corridor Contemporary.
The gallery is located at 1315 Frankford Ave and is open every day from 10am-6pm. Exhibitions are rotated at irregular intervals and feature individual artists and groups.
Paradigm
Located in the heart of Queen Villiage’s fabric row for over a decade, Paradigm is a well-known contemporary art gallery in Philadelphia. The art studio and gallery floor showcase both local Philadelphia fine artists as well as from around the world.
The South Philly gallery displays a wide range of affordable contemporary pieces that showcase the work of dedicated, emerging to established, artists. Local co-founders and curators Jason Chen and Sara McCorriston are globally recognized for their ongoing promotion of masterful mid-career artists and artisans.
On any given day, you can expect to see everything from abstract to pop art to sculptures. The gallery is only open and weekends, Saturday 11 AM – 6 PM and Sunday 11 AM – 5 PM – or, if you can’t make it to South Philly, take a virtual tour of the gallery here.
3rd Street Gallery
3rd Street Gallery is an artist member-owned cooperative that highlights all forms of media. Members share the tasks of creating in their studios and curating the gallery with a constant supply of new work.
It is their stated goal to raise the public’s awareness and recognition of fine art in Philadelphia. Past and present generations of working artists represent both the historic art culture and the dynamic contemporary scene of Philadelphia at 3rd Street Gallery.
Located at 610 South 3rd Street, between South and Bainbridge, the gallery is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; 4-7:30pm, 12-7:30pm, and 12-4pm respectively.
Arader Galleries
Arader Galleries is located at 1308 Walnut Street. It runs adjacent to the restaurant row and is situated between 13th and Broad. The gallery proudly showcases collections of classic prints, rare maps and books, watercolor paintings, and interior furnishings.
Auctions are held five times a year at their various locations. There are no scheduled exhibitions for the Philadelphia site, but visitors are welcome to visit the gallery Monday through Friday 10am-6pm. Saturday hours are 10am-5pm. The accommodating staff at Arader staff will assist you while searching through their vast collection of prints and intriguing relics.
DaVinci Art Alliance
The DaVinci Art alliance is both a gallery and a non-profit art organization located in the Bella Vista neighborhood of South Philadelphia (you can miss it with their building-high mural). What started as an outlet for Italian immigrant artists in 1931, the art gallery and organization now hosts regular exhibitions for underserved artists.
For artists, the DVAA offers a Fellowship that includes studio space, networking, and exhibition opportunities. The nonprofit has also begun hosting block parties to support the arts and sciences.
The art gallery and collective hosts a handful of exhibitions and member events throughout the year.
Gallery Hours are Wednesdays – Sundays, 11am – 5pm.
FAN Gallery
At 221 Arch Street, F.A.N. Gallery is housed in a pre-revolutionary building. The spotlight of the gallery is mainly focused on realist painters from Philadelphia. Artists from across the country are also featured.
Visitors will notice the prevailing theme of classic American painting. Landscape and still-life portraits, as well as sculptures, are constantly on display. Exhibits rotate monthly. The first floor showcases a featured artist and the second floor is dedicated to group exhibitions.
Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday 12-5pm. Stop in to experience the works of the cities’ established and emerging artists.
Pentimenti Gallery
At 145 North 2nd Street, art enthusiasts will find original and contemporary works presented through various experimental forms of media. Pentimenti Gallery features an abundance of established and ascending international artists.
Creativity derived from a variety of cultures is well represented throughout the gallery. Two exhibitions from featured artists are displayed simultaneously, running for about six weeks at a time.
The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday 10am-5pm and on Saturdays 12-5pm. The eclectic selection of artists and their imaginative works manifest the state of the current art landscape.
Muse Gallery
Muse Gallery is an artist cooperative, one of the most renowned gallery collectives in Philadelphia, located at 52 North 2nd Street. Founded in 1977, it was the first professional women’s gallery in the city. And true to that founding ideal, today the gallery provides support and opportunities to female artists.
Due to the efforts of Muse Gallery, it is a demographic that is now on the rise and increasingly represented. A couple of featured exhibitions run concurrently and last around 3-5 weeks.
Gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday 12-5pm. Exhibitions and artist events are frequently offered by the members, displaying their wonderful works and compelling curation.
More Art Galleries in Philadelphia
Eye’s Gallery
Eye’s Gallery was founded in 1968 in a vacant building at 402 South Street, where it still thrives today. It tells the story of the Zagars and their affinity for Latin American folk art. Since its establishment, the gallery has grown into a three floor homage to one-of-a-kind hand-crafted pieces from around the world. Their collection includes paintings, ceramics, paper mache figures, wood carvings, masks, jewelry and textiles. Isaiah Zagar’s iconic mosaics can be found around South Street and on the walls, floors and ceilings of Eye’s Gallery. The gallery is open every day from 11am-7pm, except on Sunday, when it opens at noon.
Locks Gallery
Locks Gallery features contemporary works of art, in all forms of media, from a renowned faction of international artists. Female artists and local talent are also highlighted.
The gallery can be found at 600 Washington Square South, showcasing modern paintings and sculptures. Exhibitions change on a monthly basis. By publishing catalogs and working with art historians, Locks Gallery advocates for detailed examination and appreciation of their exhibited art.
Featured artists and their relationship with the gallery contribute much to the modern art scene of Philadelphia. The gallery is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-6pm.
Morton Contemporary
Through the collection of art, Morton Contemporary looks to introduce more diversity into the industry. Their selection of modern art showcases unique works on canvas, sculpture and photography.
International artists, established and emerging, are featured. Women and artists of color maintain prominent representation at Morton Contemporary. Exhibitions rotate monthly and feature artists and classic collections.
The gallery is located at 115 South 13th Street and is open 7 days a week. Work with an experienced consultant to help start, or add to a contemporary collection.
Schwarz Gallery
Schwarz Gallery is an authority on classic nineteenth-century American paintings. It is specifically known as a source of works produced by Philadelphia artists dating from colonial times up to the twentieth century. The gallery has placed paintings in museums across the country.
Visit Schwarz Gallery to get a true feeling of the times and expressions of eighteenth and nineteenth-century America. Visitors are welcome Tuesday through Friday 10am-6pm. The gallery is located in a townhouse in Center City Philadelphia near Rittenhouse Square, 1806 Chestnut Street.
Vox Populi
Since 1988 Vox Populi has cultivated an interactive space for artists and audiences. The contemporary and collective scene is established through monthly exhibitions, performances and lectures. Multiple solo and group exhibitions run simultaneously.
Many of the showcases are dedicated to promoting under-represented artists. In the true sense of a collective, Vox Populi supports a diverse group of artists to experiment and take risks in their work.
Public admission is free for artist receptions every first Friday of the month from 6-10pm. Other times to visit the gallery are Friday through Sunday from 12-6pm. Seek out Vox Populi on the third floor of 319 North 11th Street.
