Amy Sherald’s best known and biggest work is likely First Lady Michelle Obama’s official portrait that hangs in the National Gallery. However, one of her literal biggest pieces is right here in Philly. Created in 2019, the mural depicts a real Philadelphia student named Najee S. The young woman’s skin appears in black and white and she wears a white-and-black coat. Her hat, however, pops with yellow color. She stares out at the city in front of an electric blue backdrop, evoking questions of identity and public perception.
Yes, Philly’s most famous fountain at Logan Square is iconic. But can you name the three figures that it depicts? Temperance Movement backer Dr. William Cary Swann championed the project unveiled in 1924 to dissuade folks from alcohol, and celebrate the city’s water instead. After all, it’s important to hydrate. Three Lenape figures evoke different bodies of water. A young native girl with a water basin represents the Wissahickon Creek. A woman with a swan (a pun off Swann’s name) depicts the Schuylkill River, and a strong Lenape man with a spouting fish behind embodies the largest surrounding river, the Delaware. It honors the land our city was built on and its history long before it got the name Philadelphia.
City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program / Meg Saligman, Broad & Spring Garden Streets. (Photo by Jack Ramsdale) Common Threads
Spring Garden and North Broad streets
Created in 1997 and restored in 2011, the Common Threads mural celebrates Philly creatives. Young Philadelphians stand next to and mimic poses of actual historic artwork. At the top, Tameka Jones, a former student at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, towers over the piece as the only student to have her own unique pose. The mural, sometimes called the “Mona Lisa on Broad Street,” celebrates young creative minds.
Keith Haring’s 1987 mural “We The Youth” at 22nd and Ellsworth Streets. (Photo by Steve Weinik) We the Youth
2147 Ellsworth Street
Keith Haring is one of the most celebrated street artists of all time, and Philly has his only collaborative public mural that remains intact on display. Painted in 1987, Haring created the artwork in collaboration with CityKids of New York and Brandywine Workshop in Philadelphia. The artist painted his expressive figures in primary colors. Action lines surround them as they appear to move dynamically around the building.
Freedom Statue, Zenos Frudakis via Wikimedia Commons Freedom statue
1600 Vine Street
The Freedom statue, by Philly resident Zenos Frudakis, was made in 2000 and depicts a moving narrative through four relief images. In the first, a male statue stands completely still with his arms by his side. He is stiff and imprisoned, attached to a wall. In the second, the man starts to wriggle around. In the third, he lunges forward, reaching ahead. And in the fourth, he has broken free – no longer attached to the wall. He is his own statue. He raises his arms and rejoices, his body imprint left behind.
“The Electric Street” by Steve Weinik from 2020 with the Mural Arts Program / Drew Billiau & David Guinn, at 6th and Wood Streets. (Photo by Steve Weinik) The Electric Street
6th Street Underpass, 6th and Wood streets
Just around the corner from Pat’s and Geno’s , art lovers can check out The Electric Street, a permanent mural and light installation. Artist David Guinn and light designer Drew Billiau collaborated to turn a Philly block into a neon marvel. Filled with blues, pinks and yellows, The Electric Street will certainly brighten up your night.
The Boner 4Ever mural on the Beury Building on Broad Street. (File Photo/Billy Penn) Boner 4ever and Forever Boner
3701 N Broad Street
Sometimes things are just so wrong that they’ve got to be right. The “Boner 4ever” and “Forever Boner” graffiti written stories high on either side of the Art Deco Beury building in North Philly has become famous. While we may never know the exact story of this artwork’s origin, legend has it that New York street artist Boner teamed up with Philly artist 4ever to create this perfect match. The graffiti became so beloved, that when developers made plans to renovate the building, it was met with intense backlash . Later, the deal fell through and the iconic graffiti was saved. Boner 4ever, indeed.
An Isaiah Zagar Mural Mosaic on 17th and Dickinson Street. (Photo by Julia Binswanger) Isaiah Zagar’s mural mosaics
Literally all over
Philadelphia’s magic gardens are covered top to bottom with striking mural mosaics from artist Isaiah Zagar. However, the artist’s work is also stamped all over Philadelphia. If you live in South Philly especially, chances are you are a block or two away from multiple titled wonders. The magic gardens have a mural map of all of his work around the city to check out and explore for yourself.
Including every amazing outdoor art project in Philadelphia on this list would be impossible. To get inspired by even more amazing Philadelphia public artworks, the Mural Arts tour season has officially begun. Street Depts is also always highlighting new and exciting street artists in Philly to check out.
