Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Welcome to our new resident artist! PMG is hosting Ivette Chaires from Cholula, Puebla, Mexico as part of the Julia Zagar Residency for Women Artists. Ivette will be staying in our residency space and getting to know Philly and PMG before heading back to her own studio in Mexico, where she will create work for an exhibition here in 2026. Ivette creates a variety of work, including art within the folk arts tradition of creating “Catrina” figures associated with el Día de los Muertos. We're excited to see how she's inspired by her experiences with us! Learn more about the Julia Zagar Residency for Women Artists and help us bring more amazing artists to Philadelphia: https://lnkd.in/gTunK3wT

We have several workshops coming up both at our main site and our new location at the Watkins Street Studio! Visit our website to check out what we're offering and come learn something new!

At an exciting time of growth and legacy preservation, PMG is welcoming applications for volunteer board candidates to continue the organization’s tradition of thoughtful strategic oversight! If you're interested in becoming an integral member of our community please consider applying: https://lnkd.in/eASayWWQ

There are only a few days left to see our current exhibition, "Threads of Transformation: Works by Krista Dedrick-Lai and Margaux McAllister." View it in our galleries through July 14! Watch our Tour & Talk with the two artists to learn more about their inspirations and methods: https://lnkd.in/eqFJjSCP

Ever wondered what it's like inside an artist's brain? Well you're in luck! Jenn Hart got the VIP tour from our guest and exhibition manager, Chelsey Luster, through some of Isaiah Zagar's less commonly toured rooms Philadelphia's Magic Gardens. Join Hart House Creative founder and Chief Creator as she gets an inside look of the whimsical mosaic wonderland and picks the brilliant mind of a rising star artist. Stream episode 4 of The Artist 10 Podcast, Painting Safe Places and Making A Magic Garden with Chelsey Luster on Tuesday, May 28: https://lnkd.in/gFHYB-Rj

“Threads of Transformation” showcases paintings, textiles, and sculptures by Krista Dedrick-Lai and Margaux McAllister. The artists share their journeys of self-reflection and growth through womanhood and motherhood. Navigating brokenness, tenderness, and togetherness in these mixed-media works, they examine human connections and transformation. View this exhibition when it opens on Friday, May 17! https://lnkd.in/eVH62q4b

We're so excited to welcome Annette to our team! Annette was hired as our new Development Manager and will be working hard to get us the funding we need for all of our projects and programs. We're happy to have her on board!

The PMG Preservation Team has been working down at 402 South Street for the last several weeks. Following the fire at Jim's Steaks and subsequent damage to the Eye's Gallery in summer 2022, the Eye's Gallery sold their building to Jim's and the old gallery space will now be incorporated into the restaurant. The Preservation Team has been reinstalling mosaics that were removed after the fire and restoring them to their old glory. They also uncovered an original mosaic by Isaiah Zagar that had been hidden behind drywall for 30 years. Read more on this exciting discovery below!

We're hosting our last volunteer orientation session this Wednesday, April 10, from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. If you've always been curious about volunteering at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, here's your chance to see what it's all about! https://lnkd.in/e_ABW9uK

We are excited to announce that we now have a beautiful catalog to accompany our current exhibition, "Ritual of Self!" The catalog is currently available in-store only, so stop by to pick up yours today!