Philadelphia Museum Of Art Galleries

Music In The Galleries

Lines/Patterns

Form and structure make strange bedfellows out of American visual artist Ellsworth Kelly and German baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

Presented by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Curtis musicians perform innovative solo and chamber programs in various galleries, exploring the fascinating relationship between music and art. Free with museum admission.

Performances are at 1:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 3 p.m. and are free with museum admission.

Music in the Galleries is generously supported by Cooke & Bieler, LP.

Philadelphias Best Art Galleries:

The top rated Art Galleries in Philadelphia are:

• The Center For Art In Wood has been widely recognized by artists, collectors, scholars, and the public
• Philadelphia Museum of Art is dedicated to inviting visitors to perceive the world and themselves
• Barnes Foundation advocates the development of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture
• Philadelphias Magic Gardens is a captivating mixed media art atmosphere that is absolutely coated with mosaics
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts PAFA was founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is Americas first school and museum of fine arts

Choir Screen From The Chapel Of The Chteau Of Pagny

The Choir Screen from the Chapel of the Château of Pagny is a marble and alabaster interactive exhibit piece situated in Gallery 255! The screen dates to the early 1500s and are just part of a large room containing many other works of art . With six entryways/exits in the room, its one of the most dynamic galleries of the museum.

Recommended Reading: Cheap Hotels Near Louvre Museum

Historic House Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant in East Fairmount Park is one the grandest homes ever built along the Schuylkill River, once called the most elegant seat in Pennsylvania by statesman John Adams.

Closure Alert

Mount Pleasant is currently closed until further notice.

Things to Know

• Mount Pleasant is considered one of the greatest American houses of its type, still standing on its original site in what is now Fairmount Park.
• Often called the largest object in the museums collection, Mount Pleasant was the home of Scottish ship captain John Macpherson and his wife Margaret between 1762 and 1765.
• Mount Pleasant architect Thomas Nevell was an apprentice of Edmund Woolley, the builder of Independence Hall. The rooms feature craftmanship from carver Martin Jugiez, one of Philadelphias leading artisans.
• The Mount Pleasant estate originally included over 100 acres of land that the owners hoped to make productive through hay production, fruit and vegetable cultivation, and animal husbandry. Such a plantation involved a diversity of labor, including the enslavement of four people of African descent.

3800 Mount Pleasant Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19121

New Early American Galleries

Ongoing

Trace the origins of our citys extraordinary creativity in our new Early American Art galleries. The 10,000-square-foot space has been installed to tell the story of how Philadelphia became the young nations cultural capital, and how Black, Indigenous, and Latin American artists contributed to the development of American art.

Stroll through spacious, beautifully lit galleriesa highlight of the museums extensive renovation projectfeaturing our unparalleled collections of paintings, ceramics, furniture, glass, silver, and more.

McNeil Galleries 100108

Pay What You Wish admission on 1st Sunday of the month & every Friday night

Watch

Sponsors

The installation of the new Early American Art galleries has been made possible with lead support from the Henry Luce Foundation, and by The Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Horowitz Foundation for the Arts, The Richard C. von Hess Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom, an anonymous donor, The Davenport Family Foundation, Edward and Gwen Asplundh, Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Booth, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. James L. Alexandre, The Americana Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. S. Matthews V. Hamilton, Jr., The McLean Contributionship, Lyn M. and George M. Ross, Dr. Salvatore M. Valenti, the Wunsch Family, Donald and Gay Kimelman, Boo and Morris Stroud, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald C. Anderson, Matz Family Charitable Fund, Marsha and Richard Rothman, and other generous donors.

Curators

Read Also: John And Mable Ringling Museum Of Art

Philadelphia Museum Of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is an art museum originally chartered in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. The main museum building was completed in 1928 on Fairmount, a hill located at the northwest end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at Eakins Oval. The museum administers collections containing over 240,000 objects including major holdings of European, American and Asian origin. The various classes of artwork include sculpture, paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, armor, and decorative arts.

Several special exhibitions are held in the museum every year, including touring exhibitions arranged with other museums in the United States and abroad. The museum had 437,348 visitors in 2021, making it the 65th most-visited art museum worldwide.

Museum Of Illusions Philadelphia

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. 10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. 10 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. 9 p.m.

You wont believe your eyes at Museum of Illusions Philadelphia in Old City. Guests will be immersed in a world where nothing is quite as it seems. Combining entertainment with education, the museum allows guests to explore and interact with the exhibits while learning the mechanics behind each illusion. Photo spots are also stationed throughout the museum guiding guests to snap the perfect mind-bending shot. to plan your visit.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. 5 p.m.

Showcasing one of the most diverse living arthropod collections in the U.S., the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion is a delight for science lovers of all ages. Learn more about insects, including tarantulas, scorpions and praying mantises through various educational exhibits throughout the Insectarium. Surround yourself with butterflies as the colorful creatures fly around you inside of the Butterfly Pavilion. To plan your visit, .

TIP: If you plan on going inside of the Butterfly Pavilion, wear bright colors so the butterflies land on you!

Hours: Friday Sunday, 12 p.m. 4 p.m.

Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 12 p.m. 4 p.m.

Hours: Thursday Sunday, 10 a.m. 5 p.m.

TIP: The Weitzman is offering free admission through the rest of 2022.

Hours: Most Saturdays, 1 p.m. 4 p.m.

Read Also: Hotels Near Brandywine River Museum

The Carl Otto Kretzschmar Von Kienbusch Collection

The museum also houses the armor collection of Carl Otto Kretzschmar von Kienbusch. The Von Kienbusch collection was bequeathed by the celebrated collector to the museum in 1976, the Bicentennial Anniversary of the American Revolution. The Von Kienbusch holdings are comprehensive and include European and Southwest Asian arms and armor spanning several centuries.

On May 30, 2000, the museum and the State Art Collections in Dresden, Germany , announced an agreement for the return of five pieces of armor stolen from Dresden during World War II. In 1953, Von Kienbusch had unsuspectingly purchased the armor, which was part of his 1976 bequest. Von Kienbusch published catalogs of his collection, which eventually led Dresden authorities to bring the matter up with the museum.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art organizes several special exhibitions each year. Special exhibitions have featured Salvador Dalà in 2005, in 2009, in 2010,Vincent van Gogh in 2012,Pablo Picasso in 2014,John James Audubon and Andy Warhol in 2016,Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent in 2017, and the Duchamp siblingsâ, Gaston, Raymond and Suzanneâin 2019. A Jasper Johns exhibition is planned for 2021.

In 2009, the museum organized Bruce Nauman: Topological Gardens, the official United States entry at the 53rd International Art Exhibition, more commonly known as the Venice Biennale, for which the artist Bruce Nauman was awarded the Golden Lion.

Architect Frank Gehry Reimagined The Iconic Building With An Interior Expansion And New Public Spaces

The Williams Forum is part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s major Core Project renovation, a public space that will facilitate activities and direct guests to galleries on all levels of the building.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art will premiere a new look Wednesday that has been two decades in the making an overhaul of the historic building’s interior and the introduction of new galleries and public spaces designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry.

The museum’s Core Project, completed after four years of construction, encompasses nearly 90,000 square feet of redesigned and newly created space within the main building, which has stood in the Fairmount section of the city since 1928.

Key features of the renovation include a rebuilt West Terrace and the creation of the Williams Forum, an activity space that connects the ground floor of the museum to its upper levels. The new Vaulted Walkway also opens up a 640-foot corridor that has not been accessible to the public for 50 years.

• MORE NEWS
• 50-ton First Amendment tablet to find new home at Philly’s National Constitution Center

Areas that previously were devoted to offices, a restaurant and a retail store have been converted into two new galleries that span 20,000 square feet of exhibition space.

The museum renovation adds to Gehry’s acclaimed architectural portfolio, which includes the famed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Don’t Miss: Museum Of Ice Cream In New York

Philadelphia Museum Of Art Opens New Galleries And Public Spaces In Major Renovation

• May 06, 2021 20:46

Philadelphia Museum of Art

On May 7, 2021, the Philadelphia Museum of Art unveils to the public the culmination of two decades of planning, design, and construction: a project by the celebrated architect Frank Gehry that represents a major milestone in the renovation, reorganization, and interior expansion of the museums landmark 1928 building. Called the Core Project because it has focused on the renewal of the museums infrastructure and has opened up the very heart of the main building, its completion after four years of construction represents an enormous step forward for the museum.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The scope of the Core Project comprises nearly 90,000 square feet of reimagined and newly created space within the main building, all of which is ADA compliant and energy efficient. It includes a rebuilt West Terrace, now the Robbi and Bruce Toll Terrace, with integrated ramps to facilitate access for all visitors a renovated Lenfest Hall, which has long served as the principal entrance to the museum a new public space, the Williams Forum, which will serve as the setting for a wide range of activities and will connect the ground floor of the museum to its upper levels and the Vaulted Walkway, a grand 640-foot long corridor that spans the entire breadth of the building and has not been open to the public for nearly 50 years.

Philadelphia Museum of ArtPhiladelphia Museum of ArtPhiladelphia Museum of Art

Scope of the Core Project

Shofuso Japanese House And Garden

Hours: Wednesday Sunday, 11 a.m. 5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. 4 p.m.

One of the many outdoor experiences that await in Philadelphias Fairmount Park, the historic Shofuso Japanese House and Garden with on-site ticketing and admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Once inside, visitors can explore a replica of a traditional 17th-century Japanese home and accompanying pond garden, tea house and tea garden. Also greeting visitors will be an all-new Pebble Beach alongside the central pond, which was created based on newly-discovered 1957 drawings made by Shofusos original garden designer. To learn more, .

Hours: Wednesday-Monday, 11 a.m. 6 p.m.

The largest work to date by South Philadelphia mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar, Philadelphias Magic Gardens, has reopened with health and safety protocols in place, including the requirement for tickets to be purchased in advance online, with hand washing and sanitizing stations placed throughout the property. Capacity will also be reduced for the indoor gallery space and all visitors must enter and exit via the Gardens main gate on South Street. To learn more, .

Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. 4:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. 4:30 p.m.

Hours: Friday, 1 p.m. 6 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 12 p.m. 5 p.m.

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. 5 p.m.

Hours: Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m. 5 p.m.

Hours: Friday-Monday, 10 a.m. 5 p.m.

Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. 5 p.m.

You May Like: National Museum Of Art Washington Dc

Frank Gehry Wing Philadelphia Museum Of Art

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Lighting Design:LObservatoire International

Many museums have a dual incentive to expand their exhibition capacity. Some, like the Museum of Modern Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, have vast collections, only a fraction of which are on exhibition at any given time. As a result, there is an incentive to make more of existing museum collections accessible to the public.

On the other hand, there is also an incentive to expand collections and exhibitions to incorporate work by contemporary artists, or to include the work of artists and artisans who have been historically overlooked in a general expansion of the cannon that includes work by under-represented communities.

Both incentives affected the decision to expand the exhibition capacity at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The new expansion not only allows the museum to exhibit more of its extensive collection, but also allows it to show more work from contemporary artists. The museum also included a program of community outreach that supports the work of local, Philadelphia-based artists. The collaborative design team responsible for the expansion included architect Frank Ghery in-house exhibition, lighting and conservation experts and LObservatoire International. The renovated museum is now a more welcoming and functional space for everyone to enjoy.

Coffered Ceiling From The Temple Of Transforming Wisdom

Look up! Its a bird! Its a plane! Actually, no. Its an even more spectacular ceilingthis time from a Buddhist temple. Thats right, you must look up in galleries lest you miss something amazing. This ceiling was created in the early 1400s for the Zhihua monastery in Beijing, China. You can find this nugget in Gallery 239.

Don’t Miss: Museum Of Science And Industry Promo Code

Philadelphia Museum Of Art Names A New Director

Sasha Suda, director and chief executive of the National Gallery of Canada, will replace Timothy Rub, who stepped down in January after 13 years and an apology to employees.

• Send any friend a story

  As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share.

  Give this article

• Read in app

By Robin Pogrebin

Two years after publicly confronting sexual harassment allegations, the Philadelphia Museum of Art has selected its new leader: Sasha Suda, the current director and chief executive of the National Gallery of Canada, in Ottawa, Ontario.

Praising her educational and work experience, Leslie Anne Miller, the museums chairwoman, said in an interview on Tuesday that Suda was the right person for the institution at this time in its history.

We hope that her gender will be seen through our lens, which is emblematic of the institutions ongoing commitment of furthering D.E.I. in everything we do, Miller continued, referring to the museums attention to diversity, equity and inclusion. Sasha understands the critical importance of building on our efforts to date to reach out to the community, to engage through the exhibitions.

At the National Gallery, where she was appointed in February 2019, Suda focused on justice and equity with a commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

But Miller said Suda was the best qualified person, adding that the museum had cast the widest possible net to attract the most diverse pool of candidates.

Philadelphia Museums That Are Now Open

Philadelphias museums, attractions and historic sites are now open with new health and safety measures in place to keep guests and employees safe. Make sure to consult each museum or attractions website and social media for their respective policies to plan for your visit. Each of the museums listed below is operating under special hours and conditions, so be sure to consult their respective website for up-to-date information. The Independence Visitor Center is open along Independence Mall, offering attraction tickets and guidance for exploring Philadelphia, with health and safety measures in place throughout the building.

Many of the museums listed below are also still offering compelling digital experiences that can be accessed anytime, anywhere, such as virtual tours, behind-the-scenes videos, and more, as highlighted in our Philadelphia From Home guide.

Hours: Varies per location, for more details

Hours: 9 a.m. 5 p.m. daily

Dedicated to exploring the life and legacy of Benjamin Franklin, the National Park Services Benjamin Franklin Museum is open in Franklin Court, just steps from Independence Hall and the shops and restaurants of Old City. Inside, visitors can interact with exhibits and view rare artifacts throughout the museum, which is divided into five rooms representing the Founding Fathers traits. Tickets are available at the door and must be purchased on the day of your visit. To plan your visit, .

You May Like: American Museum Of Natural History Parking

A Spotlight On Immigration Colonialism Trade And Underrepresented Narratives

On May 7, 2021, when the Philadelphia Museum of Art unveils its new Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Galleries dedicated to American art from 1650 to1850, visitors will enter a succession of generously proportioned spaces to experience the museums spectacular collection of early American art in an entirely new light. In galleries that will be accessed from a spacious corridor that provides superb views to the city skyline through windows with Tiffany iron grillesoriginal to the building but blocked for many decadesvisitors will be presented with the first major reinstallation of early American art since the nations Bicentennial celebrations in 1976. Comprising 10,000 square feet, these new galleries will be mirrored by another range of galleries, equal in size, dedicated to the display of modern and contemporary art. Taken together, they represent the largest expansion of gallery space in the Main Building since it opened to the public in 1928. The new galleries offer a welcome opportunity for the museum to tell a wealth of stories centered on Philadelphia and the central role it has played in the development of American art, highlighting the creative spirit that has always been a hallmark of this city and continues to distinguish artmaking in Philadelphia today.

American Encounters

Global Connections

Loyalty and Independence

Pennsylvania Crossroads

A Family of Artists

Splendor in the New Nation

Presidential China

Art & Ambition

Traditions on the Move

Curatorial Team:

Support