I love stopping by this gallery during First Fridays. Being located in Old City, it's housed in one…read moreof those beautiful historic buildings that immediately sets the mood. The original wooden floors are gorgeous and somehow make the space feel both elegant and welcoming at the same time. What keeps bringing me back, though, is the art. While the gallery is known for contemporary two-dimensional work, I always seem to find pieces that push beyond that. There are often sculptural elements, installations, and mixed-media works that spill into the gallery space and make the experience feel much more immersive than simply looking at paintings on a wall. The artists and exhibitions vary quite a bit, from highly abstract works to pieces that are more realistic and representational. The common thread seems to be experimentation. There's usually some interesting combination of materials, textures, or techniques that makes you stop, look closer, and think about what you're seeing. One of my favorite parts is the little nook toward the back of the gallery. There always seems to be something unexpected tucked away there, often a kinetic or three-dimensional piece that adds another layer to the exhibition. It's become the first place I check whenever I visit. Philadelphia has a lot of great galleries, but Pentimenti stands out because it consistently showcases work that feels thoughtful, sensory, and a little different from everything around it. Always a fun stop during First Fridays and one I find myself returning to again and again.

So putting up a First Friday event has me in the mood to review another spot that will surely be…read morevisited while many galleries that have offered viewing like it have disappeared (Lineage, Qbix, etc.) Pentimenti has really held onto its own and managed to bring in some diverse art. while it's on the small side it manages to be a two sided gallery that puts on two different displays monthly. This month featured the smooth and striated painting styles of Jacob Lunderby. His mountainsides almost had you staring into the horizon line. it also had the bizarre video arts of Tim Tate. When I peered into one of his video cylinders I saw the close up shot of a nude man and promptly ran away. but when I peered into others i saw hands typing, people dancing and then some. talk about art that's more than meets the eye.

Love the name and easy to remember since it's right on Arch Street. Arch Enemy Arts has become one…read moreof my favorite galleries to visit, especially during Philly First Fridays. Every gallery in the city tends to have its own vibe and the artists they invite reflect that. This one definitely leans toward the fantastical. Think dark fantasy, surrealism, gothic influences, mythology, and a lot of incredibly detailed imaginative worlds. As someone who plays a lot of D&D, this place is basically catnip for me. A lot of the paintings feel like concept art for worlds that could exist in a campaign. Creatures, strange landscapes, dreamlike characters, and scenes that feel like they have entire stories behind them. The art style tends to be very polished and illustrative, with rich colors, dramatic lighting, and tons of detail. You can stare at one piece for a long time and keep noticing new little elements hidden inside. It really feels like you could step into some of these paintings and explore the world inside them. The space itself is intimate but well curated, so the exhibitions always feel cohesive. Every time I come for First Friday there is something new and interesting on the walls. Always a great time and definitely one of my favorite galleries in Philly.

This is an awesome gallery…read more When we were lucky enough to hang out here last week, the pieces on display were alternately beautiful, dark, haunting, freaky, creepy, and most certainly conversation pieces. I'm a fan. Combined with a well-lit, large and well-appointed space with a very accommodating staff, it's unsurprisingly an excellent place to host a private event. My only issue with the entire space was the spotty wi-fi, which made using the Sonos music system a bit of a headache. Perhaps it would've been better if (excuse my language) we were not on the "Arch Enemy" network, but the "Suck A Bag Of Dicks" network. Or maybe we should've tried "Peg Me Like A Dirty Whore." I guess we'll never know.

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.

I have personally visited and acquired art from this gallery…read more But, don't let the gallery name, Works on Paper, deceive you in to thinking that this venue offers only drawings and prints. The gallery also has a diverse inventory of original paintings and sculptural objects. And, there is no reason to travel to Chelsea, NY as the gallery specializes in emerging and contemporary art in a spectrum of both media and artistic styles. The space is conveniently located in the heart of Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square amid the bustle of Walnut Street, directly above American Apparel. The gallery space is large and open with natural light and a constantly changing exhibition of contemporary masters (Andy Warhol, Richard Serra, Chuck Close, Richard Diebenkorn, James Rosenquist, Jasper Johns, Sean Scully and Sol Lewitt, et al) and contemporary artists whose name and history should be more household but is more broadly museum-based (e.g., Toby Kahn). According to the the gallery owner, Works on Paper publishes, distributes and trades important Print editions and is also vested in developing the next generation of important artists ranging from abstract to street-based to post modern landscapes to architectural interiors, all in a variety of media. The gallerist, Evan Slepian, is ideally suited for his profession - he is immediately likeable, recognizably passionate, intellectually knowledgeable and connected to the American and European art community. Mr. Slepian is conversant on the subject of his art and artists without being condescending and his pricing is comparatively reasonable with fine and collectible art ranging from offerings of a few hundred dollars to a million plus. This top floor gallery is a top notch space with inventory worth exploring like any great public, private or museum collection. Keep your eyes open when visiting, it's easy to be overwhelmed and miss an exotic desktop object or small canvas casually placed as if in your private home. Highest of recommendations.

This is such a great gallery!…read more It's in a prime location in Rittenhouse Square, right next to the Apple Store and above American Apparel. It's easy to miss it as it's on the top floor, but once you find it, you'll be happy you did. Lots of interesting artwork there, and displayed very well. Even the restrooms are adorned with some gems - including a few Shepard Fairey pieces you can't help but love.

From the very moment you step through its doors, the art gallery leaves an indelible first…read moreimpression--charmingly adorned with an air of elegance and thoughtfully curated pieces that ignite contemplation. Events constantly take place, thankfully giving me reasons to come back and immerse myself again. I wait in anticipation every time, being able to enjoy the sheer beauty of these artworks, is a delight in itself. It's a realm where abstract portraits and contemporary local creations gracefully envelop the senses, one where local pieces allow one to immerse oneself in the beauty of life whilst supporting local artists. My review can't even begin to do justice to my love for Colonna Contemporary. Can't wait until the next event.

The Arthur Ross Gallery presents dynamic art exhibitions throughout the year, and all are welcome…read moreto enjoy the shows for free! The gallery is a quiet, meditative space during the average day, but the openings are lively and fun. Love this place!

The Ross Gallery almost always seems to have an interesting exhibition. Right now is one of their…read morebest - The famous Thomas Evans Collection is finally again on public view. Dr. Thomas Evans of Philadelphia was one of the world's foremost dentists and the dentist to Emperor Napoleon III and his wife Empress Eugenie. In fact it was his carriage that rescued Empress Eugenie after the revolt following France's devastating defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and whisked her away from the Paris mobs. (That carriage has finally been brought back to Philadelphia from France and is on view at the Penn Dental School.) This exhibition is a must for anyone interested in the arts and history of the Second Empire. Hey and while you're at the Ross, take the opportunity to visit the next door Furness Fine Arts Library. This is one of North America's most beautiful libraries!

Ugh! I thought that I've already been to the worst gallery that First Friday has to offer…read more(http://www.yelp.com/biz/larry-becker-contemporary-art-philadelphia#hrid:dyhw4pVDk3wufuaulP6heg). But Gallery Joe is absolutely horrendous! I've been here before way back when, but I totally forgot about it because it keeps it's doors closed, or closes early during so many First Friday's. And after revisiting it on on Friday I either wish it would figure out how to step up it's game, or stay that way. Since it's rarely open I thought I was going to be walking into a treat. Instead I came across pencil drawings on white paper that were so beyond plain that they were a joke. Some had squiggly lines that were sort of made to look likes water, while others where a total scribble fest. And some of them even looked like they were made with a Spirograph. Spirograph? SPIROGRAPH! because of how average the art was I thought that it was at least going to be somewhat inexpensive. How much did these Spirograhic scribble fests end up costing? $800-900! What the shit? $900 for something that my cousin's baby daughter could do? Fail! I was so stumped that I thought that it had to be a joke for the month, so I went to check out it's archival room. Inside the Archival room were pieces of paper that where fully shaded in with charcoal. The majority had darker charcoal X's shaded in over grey squares. To the artists credit if I did something like that I probably would have ended up slicing a hole through the paper. But it was still a big pile of crap. lesson learned. on the next tour consider this place skipped.

I'm not sure what the last reviewer is talking about. This was my favorite gallery waaaay back when…read moreI was in grad school in Philly (2001 - 2003) because I was nearly always inspired by what I saw there, month after month. I went back to visit a year ago (I live on the other side of the country now) and was so pleased to find it just as I remembered. The two artists showing at the time (Allyson Strafella and another whose name I can't recall) were both amazing.

Such a beautiful, and lovingly curated space. The talent Sheri has spreads beyond just her painting…read moreabilities . Her passion for activism and human rights create a safe and inspiring venue. Highly recommend checking out this space for any and all art related events and gifts! Sheri does everything within her power to make lasting memories for you.