Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Washington Square West/Center City/South Philadephia
You may have noticed dozens of colorful, large and often eccentric mosaics around Center City and beyond, intermingled with all the historical monuments and architecture.
They're largely the work of one man, Isaiah Zagar, a local artist who has been creating his own style of public folk art since 1968. Today, you can find the epicenter of his efforts at 1020 South Street near Washington Square, in a pair of vacant lots that he's been converting to an outdoor gallery since 1994.
Over the years, he's built walls, cut tunnels, and layered on thousands of found objects like bicycle wheels and bottles, gifts from locals, sculptures from other continents, and lots of tiles and grouting. The gardens now cover more than 3,000 square feet and have become a popular local attraction. And, after decades outside of the mainstream art world, he's also started to appear in nearby museums and get more attention beyond the city.
Tickets aren't too expensive, but they're in high demand. General admission is $10, with various discounts available, and the venue recommends buying it online ahead of time as available slots (especially weekends) tend to sell out. The full self-guided tour takes about half an hour, but you're free to stick around for an hour longer.
Open times can vary given private events, ongoing work and maintenance, so be sure to check the calendar beforehand. Find tickets and more details on the official site.
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