Art Sanctuary

A wholly original and beautiful little spot with an incredible story behind it. Really cool to see…read morehow one man's vision endured against long odds and now has left a great space for other artists to share their work too. The gift shop also has great, unique stuff. Worth making a little trip here and strolling the neighborhood to see the vendors and Isaiah's other work nearby. Pro tip: Get your ticket in the gift shop and don't worry about timed entry!

We love quirky places like this. There are a number of these "weird" art installations in our home…read morestate of Wisconsin so we knew we had to visit this when in Philadelphia. We bought timed ticks online a couple of weeks in advance - with our reciprocal museum membership we got free admission. The history of this place and the artist who created it is fascinating. There is so much to see in each area and around each corner. It's easy to miss stuff. Don't forget to walk around the block to see the exteriors of nearby buildings. They have all been given the "mosaic" treatment! We were here a bit under one hour. Definitely worth a stop!

Locks Gallery

4.3

(3 reviews)

•$$$$

I stopped in here with a friend and was pleasantly surprised by the interior of this gallery. There…read morewere only a handful of pieces on display and they were all very impressive (and expensive!). They have a second floor, too, that they use for larger exhibits, so I hope to get up there at some point. it's free!

Nice gallery featuring contemporary and modern works from some relatively well known artists. They…read moregallery has a smaller main gallery downstairs and a larger gallery upstairs. Exhibits generally change on a monthly basis so stop back often, as some are really interesting, such as the video installations of Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib they had on display last year. It's free and located on the southeast corner of Washington Square Park.

The Fabric Workshop and Museum

4.2

(38 reviews)

Honestly, I had no idea this place existed until I saw it advertised and decided to check it out…read more I'm glad I did because it ended up being one of the more unique museums I've visited in Philadelphia. It's a relatively small and intimate space. The first floor has a gift shop and an area for workshops and activities, while the galleries are spread throughout the building. When I visited, the first-floor exhibition featured quilts, while the upstairs gallery focused more on themes of American culture. Both were fantastic. The quilt exhibition was probably a traveling show, and I absolutely loved it. I know several quilting enthusiasts, so I have at least some appreciation for how much time, patience, and technical skill goes into creating these pieces. Some of them felt less like blankets and more like full-scale tapestries. The level of detail, color work, and craftsmanship was incredible. The upstairs exhibition had a much stronger political and social commentary element, which I personally enjoyed. Art doesn't have to exist solely to be beautiful or entertaining. It can challenge ideas, express opinions, document experiences, and start conversations. I appreciated that the museum embraced that side of art rather than shying away from it. One of the coolest parts was the workshop area downstairs. There was a small market set up and plenty of people actively crafting and creating things. For a moment I wanted to join in, but the space was packed. Then I watched what everyone was making and quickly realized these people were good. Very good. At that point I remembered I was in a fabric museum and workshop and that my own sewing abilities are... let's politely call them limited. The only thing that felt a little awkward was how often the museum reminded visitors about the recommended donation. I completely understand why. Free museums need support, and I have no issue contributing. It just came up enough times that I started feeling a little self-conscious about it. I was already planning to donate on my way out, but repeated reminders always make me feel slightly uncomfortable even when I understand the reason behind them. Overall, this was a wonderful surprise. Thought-provoking exhibitions, beautiful craftsmanship, active creative spaces, and a welcoming atmosphere. If you're interested in textiles, contemporary art, or just want to discover a museum that's a little different from the usual Philadelphia lineup, it's definitely worth a visit.

Popped in to thaw my dawgs and was greeted by a lovely giftshop. Lots of gorgeous prints and…read morejewlerly made by local artists and my favorite-- free postcards!! I was hoping to see the workshop, but the day I went only the 1st floor exhibits and the 8th floors were open to the public. I recently got back into sewing, so this was a great opportunity to explore new ways fabric has been used for expression.

Apple Jacks Studio

(1 review)

This art gallery comes alive every First Friday with the heart and spirit of Philadelphia…read moreshowcasing the best of Philadelphia. You will not be disappointed when you walk through these doors.

Gallery51

(4 reviews)

I stumbled upon this little shop, and altho' it appeared to be closed, a knock on the door brought…read moreout the owner, who opened the door for me. This store has one-of-a-kind rugs from mostly the Middle East and Caucasus region, and interesting and unusual decor items from a wider range of areas. The owner is knowledgeable and interesting to talk with.

Gallery 51 is as rare a find as its contents. The collections of unusual, antique rugs from all…read moreover the world is very impressive, as is the owner, Craig, a knowledgeable resource about his unique pieces. Gallery 51 is a must see for any aficionado or collector.

PhilaMOCA

4.1

(23 reviews)

This is a unique and evergreen venue that adapts to whatever artist / act / DJ / event is…read moreexhibiting within its walls. Such a gem right off the Spring Garden stop, I attended a fantastic mixed poetry reading and open mic night back in October. They have two levels and there's bathrooms at the back and a couple of different ways to set up seats. The stage itself is the perfect size for a DJ setup or smaller show. I look forward to the next time I get to go back and support this eclectic spot - an obvious haven for artists and the entire scene here in Philly. Stay up to date via their Instagram and website - in all likelihood this spot will have something eye catching programed on any given week. Get there and support this institution and Philly artists!

Love what it used to be, and especially love what it is now!…read more If you've attended a Mad Decent Block Party prior to the one that happened at the Piazza this year then you might be well aware of the mausoleum that used to be Diplo's temple of sound. And when he moved on the expand the Mad Decent name to other parts of the US he sold it to a group who aimed to create an incredible DIY forum for art and music. The end result delivers quite well on both fronts. It makes for a good all ages shows. And Since it used to be the studio of an exceptional DJ/Producer who knew more than a thing or two about sound (http://youtu.be/N5_vYkYPP08) it goes without saying that it might get loud. So earplugs may be recommended least you find yourself saying Its All Gone Pete Tong (http://youtu.be/g5K6pIez5P4). When PhilaMOCA isn't showcasing some incredible music its open for some pretty eclectic art viewings. And it works with plenty of collectives that are well versed in combining the 2 scenarios. You also might have some good reason to attend this Halloween season ;)

Morton Contemporary

(6 reviews)

Awesome art lives here. Such a fun place to go and see what creative minds are doing. The art is…read moreincredible!

This is the premier art gallery in Philadelphia! The gallery owner and curator, Debbie Morton, has…read morefilled her space with exceptional pieces that span a brood range of mediums, subjects and price. The gallery is bright, inviting and interesting. Debbie is constantly on the search for artists to bring in as well as keeping her connections strong with the artists she already represents. If you are looking for a new piece of art, I would start here!!

Vox Populi

4.4

(11 reviews)

Fortunately I just found out that this place stills exists, Because the whole street that it used…read moreto be on is currently being revamped big time. now the address is 319 North 11th Street, 3rd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107. it's Gallery hours are Wednesday-Sunday 12-6pm and they usually have a lot of good alternative arts. They have a special First Friday viewing that's open to the public from 6-11 PM. Although Vox has been in three different buildings, it has been a non-profit art collective that has supported emerging artists since 1988. so it's good to here that it's still going strong. The Vox on Cherry street had an occasional concert. so maybe this one will too, but it's too soon to tell.

Always fun to see what's going on at Vox... the exhibits range from powerful to silly, thoughtful…read moreto bizarre. You can spend between an hour or more depending on how much you delve into the work. Don't forget that the 2nd floor also has galleries as well. An interesting date spot too.

Seraphin Gallery

4.3

(3 reviews)

Seraphin Gallery is conveniently located in Center City. It always seems to have good shows and…read morethere are of a variety - I never know what will be there next! Anyone interested in art, contemporary or 20th century, should visit Seraphin.

Very nice gallery space and lots of great art. However, the man that runs the gallery is rude-only…read morespeaks to certain people and ignores others. He's ignored a couple serious potential buyers.

The Art Shop At Moore

4.5

(2 reviews)

I always find it a pleasure to stop in the Moore College of Art Shop. In addition to t-shirts,…read moresweat tops, & mugs emblazoned with the schools name on it, there are also myriad works on sale from the former alumni. Yes, most are on the crafty side - jewelry, stuffed toys, scarves, face masks, magnets, & greeting cards. But there is also a rack of clothing (mainly tops), prints, graphic novels & 'zine-like books, and some paintings too. Much of the items seem reasonably priced. If you're looking for craftsy gifts, I'd reccomend stopping in here to make a purchase & help an artist out. (I can't say if any of the artists on display here still reside in Philly). Neighbors in the area might want to keep this unassuming shop in mind when shopping for presents, especially for the women in your life. Perusing these pieces make me wish that I'd gone to Moore as an art student.

I like this little space a lot! Makes me wish Tyler had something like this! Only down side is I…read morefeel a lot of the works here are a bit crafty. I still really enjoy them, but I would like to see more photos and paintings. Not so many trinket items.

Linvilla Orchards

3.5

(505 reviews)

Went to the spring car show. This is my 3 rd year going. They get lots of old and classic cars and…read morethey do a flea market as well. They have a pizza truck that serves very good personal pies. The car show gets a few hundred cars. If you want to enter your car it's $20 cash at the gate. They give you a small tin plaque and a registration card for your window. Since my car isn't winning any awards I don't stay till 3 pm to await the judges choices. My car is nice, but not prize winning nice but that's ok. It's a fun few hours. It got too hot by noon to stay longer. Weather in early May is tricky. Highly recommend checking out the car show. The general store on the grounds is huge. Bought lots of stuff to take home.

Linvilla orchards is an amazing place to bring family and kids of all ages. They have so many…read moredifferent activities like fruit picking, animal zoo, pet feeding, children playground, all for free. There's also a beer garden for adults that opens around noon. There's also a a market that sells freshly grown fruits, vegetables and local made goods. There's also a garden and gift shop selling a lot of the local artisan products. Lots of parking available around the main entrance area. We went early in the morning around 10am. We spent most of the first few hours walking around the zoo that had a huge chicken range, duck pond, cow, goats, sheep and horses. There are vending machine to buy corns to feed the animals. We had to get our own quarters as the coin exchange machine was broken. Around the noon we head to the Linvilla Grill. They had some good pizza and chicken tenders. There were few outdoor benched to dine. Price was little steep. The freshly squeezed lemonade was outrageous. They make the whole thing by grinding lemon right in front and put it in a huge plastic 32 oz jar. It is so worth for $8. We also bought some peaches and cooking sauces from the market. Cash is preferred, for credit card they charge fee at the market checkout.

Italian Market Festival

4.5

(20 reviews)

Always a great time with great food I go every year with my mom she's from that area so it's a…read moregreat time for her

I once had the pleasure of a one day trip with good close friends to Philadelphia, PA during the…read moreItalian Market Festival. We had a foodie day of Italian staples including sweets. Italian Market Festival is an outdoor market on 9th Street that complete me... Italian sausage, Italian staples as freshly handmade pasta, and all genres of sweets imaginable. Eat, walk a little, walk some more on Philadelphia's historic 9th Street! Foodie galore in the City of Brotherly Love!

Manayunk Arts Festival

4.5

(12 reviews)

So much fun! Lots of variety of food and arts! Must go ... add it to your calendar! Glad I wentread more

We love going to the Manayunk Arts Festival. We had a great time, but unfortunately it was too hot…read moreto walk around for any length of time. Hopefully next year the weather will be cooler.

St Anthony's Italian Festival

3.2

(13 reviews)

Everything! The ambiance was beautiful, good crowd control, and the food was absolutely delicious!read more

the biggest RIP off I have ever seen. save your money. 30 dollars for 2 kids to ride 2…read morerides!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we left and went to Middletown carnival

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Art S.

8 years ago

Awesome! Very nice experience.

Art Sanctuary - galleries - Updated July 2026

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Asian Arts Initiative

4.6

(14 reviews)

Fantastic space, even better mission and lots of thought provoking events that we need in these…read morethoughtless times.

We attended a wedding reception on the top floor (third) of the Asian Arts Initiative ("AAI") and…read morehad a great time. The AAI is located in Philadelphia's Chinatown North (Callowhill) neighborhood, attached to a Best Western Plus which was perfect for wedding guests. The center sits on Vine which parallels I-676. It has nice views of the downtown Philly skyline to east and south, especially from the top floor. The AAI is a nonprofit organization. It serves as a community center with an art gallery, workshops, meeting spaces, and theater. The art gallery is located on the first floor and is open weekdays, 10am-6pm. The organization is inclusive, works to promote racial equity, and encourages discourse about the Asian-American experience. Like many buildings in Center City, the AAI building is old and creaky. There are both stairs and an elevator. The stairwell on the lower level had a funky, sewer-like smell. The stairwell had cool, colorful murals. The wedding reception took over pretty much the entire third floor space. The open layout had all-white walls and wood (or wood laminate) flooring. The ceiling was decorated in string lights, there was ambient blue and purple lighting up some of the walls, and six windows provided views facing south towards city skyscrapers. There were white tablecloths, candles and flowers, white folding chairs, bar and catering stations set up along the perimeter by Chef's Table Catering of Philadelphia (https://www.yelp.com/biz/chefs-table-catering-philadelphia), a DJ, sound and lighting system, and photo booth. The ductwork was exposed and generally, the room had a sort of loft or factory feel to it. The reception went off without a hitch. Dinner flowed well, sound was good for mics and music, and lighting was dimmed/turned off for dancing. The reception ran from 6pm to 9pm. During this time, the front door to the center, which otherwise would have been closed, was open. There was a lady stationed at the front desk and she was helpful. The floor was a little warm. I'm not sure if the AC was working or not. There were two restrooms. At this event, they were designated one per sex though I think normally, they're gender-neutral. The ladies got the multi-stall restroom while the guys got the single-stall restroom. This caused a backup for the guys at one point. I think we could have also used restrooms on the other two floors if we had to.

Kanvas Event Center

(1 review)

I love this event space first of all it is black owned, woman owned & family run. The space is…read moregorgeous and extremely versatile. I've seen it decorated for upscale events (with round tables and seating) as well as, panel discussions & live bands (there's a stage as well) & vending markets. The owner is such a sweetheart, she's kind and greets you with a beautiful simile and is very welcoming. I've attended events as a guest and also had the honor of vending at a networking Monday event. It's a great space for any type of event or celebration. I absolute recommend Kanvas and make sure to follow them on social media to keep up with all that they do for the community.

Vie

4.0

(29 reviews)

We came here for a wedding, the place looked pretty, nice ambiance. Bathrooms should have been…read moregender neutral as men and women were open and across from one another, and exactly the same. Bathrooms were not tended to at the 300 ppl wedding, it was gross. The appetizers were too different and nothing was labeled, the attendants didn't speak English and weren't much help, what if we had food allergies, in which we do, It kept us from eating food. The food was subpar the salmon was bland and not much crabmeat. The green beans were not even cooked and were flavorless. The ribeye was way over cooked. The desserts trays were the cheap mini options and cookies. A few breakfast type options were unique for a wedding. Bottom line, it was just ok, nothing great.

I was a guess at a wedding a couple weeks back ,it was such a beautiful place , the young lady…read morewho take care the bathroom was so nice ima did great job

Crane Arts

4.6

(8 reviews)

When it's the second Thursday of the month, definitely visit Crane Arts if you love art. The…read morebuilding is full of so many art galleries and studios that you'll be able to discover so many talented artists. They also offer light snacks and drinks and some food in a few studios too which is a great bonus.

Visited Crane Arts to check out the 'Shades: Expanding the Language of Black Skin' exhibit at…read moreLuster Gallery & Studio, and stumbled upon some great work! It was a Thursday night, and we were able to enjoy exhibits in the other studios/galleries in the building, so that was a surprise treat. A night of creativity and connection was very much necessary, and I look forward to seeing more and visiting again in the near future.

Power Plant Productions

4.9

(27 reviews)

Power Plant Productions was the perfect venue to host our June 2021 wedding, and the Power Plant…read moreteam went above and beyond to help manage our event details (after having to reschedule our date twice!). The venue: If you're looking for a gorgeous and unique venue space, with an industrial feel and blank canvas to work with, then Power Plant is for you! It has a great Old City location and is truly unlike any other wedding venue we've ever been to. Featuring large floor to ceiling windows, and beautiful white walls, the lighting at this venue can't be beat and there is definitely a cool factor that comes along with the space. The venue easily fit our 115 guests and was the perfect backdrop for our traditional wedding ceremony and cocktail style reception. The team: Chris, Jim, and Brian were extremely easy to work with and made us feel heard, valued, and a part of the Power Plant family. Chris helped manage event details and vendor coordination and made us feel at ease throughout our event reschedules due to Covid. Chris was flexible, offered creative solutions and workarounds, and respected our decisions when we decided to push back our wedding dates. We truly felt that we were all in this together, and it was a really sweet feeling to come out on the other side and have the celebration we dreamed of last month.

We had our wedding here in July 2023. This venue made it soo easy for us to design the perfect…read moreevent with clean lines, industrial feel and all white backdrop. Our colors popped and the whole event was elegant. Chris and here team were so easy to work with making sure we were involved and able to make changes to the layout to fit what we needed. They worked well with our caterer and we got the wedding of our dreams. Would 100% recommend them!

Center For Architecture and Design

3.2

(5 reviews)

Always an interesting exhibit - I am a fan of the center for industry-related events and their…read morestore.

This was the perfect venue for a recent work event my company hosted! The space was beautiful, very…read morewell located (steps from the Convention Center), and the staff was friendly and accommodating. I also liked that the main event space could be changed depending on the type of event you want to host. My company went with a simple cocktail reception, but the venue had the equipment to do more (podiums, AV equipment, etc.) This is a great venue for ANY kind of gathering, but there's no excuse to host an event anywhere else for companies participating in an event at the Convention Center. I can't recommend it enough!

The Clay Studio

4.3

(45 reviews)

This my first time with the clay studio, I really enjoyed my time and so did my client. She is 94…read moreand she really worked that machine to create her perfect piece. Everything was so nice and clean, loved how they had a shop and little museum to walk through! Great pieces! Nadia and Lily were amazing and very helpful! Thanks to those too! We will definitely be back and e turning was nice, the food was wonderful!

Great for date night, girls night out, family time or honestly anything!…read more I did the pottery date night class and it was so awesome! It starts out with a small cocktail hour (no alcohol, other beverages and finger foods) in the clay studio gift shop. You get some time to look some cool stuff on display and can purchase them too! The actual pottery making was around 90mins, 60mins on the wheel and about 30mins to glaze the piece. There is one main instructor and a few assistant instructors that walk around and help you out. You watch a demo first and then get hands on at making your own bowl! The instructors are really patient and if you mess up, they'll hand you another ball of clay. I screwed up many of my pieces and got super embarrassed but they'd joke and make it fun. You get to pick 2 pieces to keep out of all the ones you make during the 60mins. I ended up with 2 small succulent pots, super excited to put my plants in! The glazing is pretty simple. There are a handful of basic colors to choose from and you just paint them on. Afterwards the studio will fire the pieces and then ship then to an address you designate. We got ours a little earlier than 2weeks so it was a nice surprise! I would definitely go to another session again and may even commit to the longer semester classes...just need to free up time . If you're considering this, definitely do it!

23rd Street Armory

3.9

(15 reviews)

Went to the 2nd annual Philly Cocktail Fest had a blast yet again. They host 2 different time…read moresessions. Ticket was $50 and I got to try 15 different bars/restaurants that participated along with other side vendors. Congrats to Jerry's Bar winning back to back years

My friends suggested that we stop by the Punk Rock Flea Market, which was held at the armory…read more Hey - why not? An armory is a perfect place for a DIY punk show, so why couldn't one host a flea market? The event was a success. There were plenty of vendors who were selling everything from old vinyl to thrift clothing to homemade artwork and more - all with a punk rock attitude. The venue itself is a-ok. It's obviously an old military armory, complete with a few military artifacts. I'm not sure if it's still used for military purposes, however its website advertises it can be rented out for corporate expos, tradeshows, weddings and other events. There's plenty of space for all these things, though not many bells and whistles. A note - the bathrooms are downstairs. I didn't see an elevator, so you may want to inquire about one if you think your guests may need it.

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