Mosaic wonderland

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.

Isaiah Zagar, a local artist, began tiling South Street in the late 1960s, when he moved to the area with his wife Julia.  Work started on the Magic Gardens in 1994, in a vacant lot nearby Zagar’s studio. 

Isaiah spent the next 14 years, crafting the space out of cement, bottles, folk art, spare bicycle parts, plates, tea cups, hand-made tiles, mirrors of every shape and size, and more. 

You will come across other walls in the neighbourhood covered with Zagars signature style.

The tiled immersive passages of the Magic Garden cover an indoor and outdoor space equivalent to half a city block, weaving over- and underground.  The variety of materials and colours used, and the complexity of the space give the garden a wondrous, dreamy appeal, and a creativity that feels almost childlike.

Admission is fairly cheap and they have a small gallery in the back where they have different artists work on display - however, outdoors is definitely where you will want to spend most of your time!

Spare bicycle parts feature prominently

Watched it go frame by frame

A bowler hat nip

Further reading

• Pop artist Keith Haring's 1987 mural in Philadelphia

• We The Youth: Keith Haring Mural

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    Alistair Bancroft | 2017
  • United States
  • North America

by Alistair Bancroft

• I'll have what she's having

• Eating New York in One Sandwich

• • 

    Alistair Bancroft | 2017
  • United States
  • North America

by Alistair Bancroft

Alistair is a passionate traveler who has explored a diverse array of cultures and countries, having visited over 50 destinations across multiple continents.

Currently in: London, United Kingdom —  @0_7734