Last Updated on October 5, 2022
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
By Carla Marie Rupp and Jason Rupp
Without a doubt, there is an abundance of public art in Philadelphia. In fact, there is so much that the city has become a hot travel destination for art.
Quite significantly, there’s public art in the airport, murals all over the city, and outside sculptures everywhere. There are also art museums full of pleasurable viewing of European and American works. And, of course, there are lots of art galleries, even edgy art from high-energy art-academy students and professors.
And there’s also “the Barnes,” the extraordinary art collection of legendary Dr. Albert C. Barnes at the Barnes Foundation. It’s the rage of the Philadelphia art world.
“The Barnes”
Long relegated to the Barnes Foundation in Merion, PA, it’s a state-of-the-art facility on Philadelphia’s culturally rich Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The new location makes the Foundation’s amazing collection of art works — the world’s largest collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings, including 181 Renoirs, 69 Cezannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos, 7 van Goghs and numerous other masters — even more accessible to travelers.
The City of Brotherly Love has certainly long enjoyed a reputation as a city of public art with such world-class museums as the prestigious Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) and the Rodin Museum (containing the largest collection of the French master’s sculptures outside of Paris).
The opening of the Barnes puts another layer on the city’s already delicious art cake. Its museums are certainly on par with many of the celebrated art museums of New York.
Philadelphia’s popular tourism campaign “With Love, Philadelphia XOXO,” undoubtedly is luring travelers from far and near, has now been expanded to include the promotion “With Art Philadelphia”.
We’ve seen it all over and it certainly appears to be luring art-lovers from Germany, Japan, France and Italy to the city. “The Barnes opening has brought a lot of fresh excitement to the city,” says Gary P. Steuer, Chief Cultural Officer for the City of Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Barnes Foundation neighbor, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, a jewel of a place founded in 1805, is housed in a beautiful historic-landmark building. By all means, pay it a visit.
Its must-see museum has been exploring its connections with Dr. Barnes, who years ago exhibited 75 pieces of his priceless art collection there. Also don’t miss the PAFA, a recipient of a National Medal of Arts, with its rare museum and student shows containing edgy, impressive artistic pieces.
Going all the way with public art in Philadelphia could include staying in a cool hotel, one that delivers a stylish and modern design while preserving some of the Art Deco building’s historic details. Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, for example, housed in the 80-year-old American Institute of Architects building, displays work by local and national artists.
Without a doubt,the Palomar suits any art-oriented visit perfectly, and even hosts a free, fun wine reception for guests, with popcorn by the fireplace, from 5-6 pm daily. And surprisingly for a morning treat, the Palomar serves Italian cannoli with coffee!
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Any traveler interested in public art in Philadelphia would also have to leave time to explore the important Philadelphia Museum of Art, the third-largest art museum in the country.
Anchoring the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the west of the Barnes, it houses 300,000 works spanning 2,000 years. By all means visit its amazing collection that includes a Rogier van der Weyden altarpiece, a large Bathers by Cezanne, a room devoted to Philadelphia’s own Thomas Eakins and Marcel Duchamp’s mixed-media Bride Stripped Bare by her Bachelors (The Large Glass).
You can also take a complimentary shuttle service from the Art Museum to the close-by Ruth and Raymond Perelman Building to admire its Art Deco facade, photographs, designs, costume and textile collections.
If you go back past the Barnes, just a few blocks away you’ll also find the Sister Cities Park, with a nice visitor’s center, a fountain, a cute little coffee cafe and a sculpture naming all of the 10 “sister” cities, truly a witness to the global nature of Philadelphia.
You may also enjoy: 2 Days in Philadelphia / Some of the Best Renaissance Festivals in the US / A Guide to Famous Delis in New York City
If You Go:
Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp.
30 S. 17th Street, Suite 2010
Philadelphia, PA 19103
www.visitphilly.com
https://philly.curbed.com/maps/philadelphia-murals-new-best
Tel: (800) 537-7676
The Barnes Foundation
2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
20th Street/and the Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
https://www.barnesfoundation.org/
[email protected]
Tel: (215) 278-7000
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)
128 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1424
www.pafa.org
Tel: (215) 972-2031
Rodin Museum
22nd Street/Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19101
www.rodinmuseum.org
Tel: (215) 763-8011
Great article. It really captures the essence of Philadelphia’s art scene.
It sure is a great art scene in Philadelphia. You are lucky to live there, Renee. There’s a happy hour scene on Friday nights (Art After 5) at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (music, refreshments, mingling and art); and on select Thursdays nights, people can hang out at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts for PAFA After Dark,with refreshments, socializing and performances, musical and otherwise. Even there’s a brown-bag lunch social at PAFA every Wednesday from 12 noon to 1 p.m., with free discussions and lectures. There’s so much to do in the art world, not to mention everything else with tours. I hear there are guided tours leaving from the Fairmount Park Welcome Center in summer until October that explains how Philly’s version of the famed Champs-Elysees fits into William Penn’s vision of a “greene countrie towne.” Philadelphia is very beautiful, inside and out! At museumwithoutwalls.org, there is a series of free, three-minute audio segments that talk about the 51 outdoor sculptures along the Parkway and up Kelly Drive. Amazing what Philadelphia is doing for art and art-lovers!
Good work Carla. I welcome readers to visit my website too. Probably, some of my travel experiences may be useful.
Best,
Prakash
I liked this story about art in Philadelphia.
It tells about all the murals, sculptures and paintings to see there.
What a nice story. I hope to visit there one day after reading this story!!!
My business is about Marble sculptures here at 2025 Welton St. Denver, CO 80205. A lot people know and visit our gallery. It is an amazing place for art lovers! I think Philadelphia and Denver have a lot in common with love of art.
Thank you so much for sharing this art story.
Thanks, Carla. We loved having you here in Philly. And thanks for noticing that the visual treats start in the airport, before you even unpack your bags! If your readers want to learn more, they should check out http://www.visitphilly.com/withart. It’s loaded with great images and information, and even an interactive fly-over map of the Ben Franklin Parkway, home to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum, the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Barnes Foundation–along with lots-o-sculpture and fun places to perch.
Thanks, Cara, for commenting on this wonderful website.
The Hotel Palomar, which we wrote about in this story, now has a new art package for visitors to Philadelphia! Guests would have a great time using this special hotel package combined with the art attractions!
Carla Marie Rupp
Travel Writer
Thanks for mentioning that hotel package, Carla. The Palomar (a fun Kimpton hotel) deal offers two Barnes tickets, the digital audio guide, and even a discount to the museum’s shop and café. Plus, the Palomar has a free wiine reception every evening. Here’s the link: http://www.hotelpalomar-philadelphia.com/
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