Tessera

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net

@philartdotnet.bsky.social

Cataloging Philadelphia's Public Art on the web since 1998. Posting daily random page links with pictures and updates to the web site. Sharing other people's Philadelphia Public Art, Public Art, and Philadelphia related posts on a limited basis.

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Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 8h ago

Today's random page is the entry for "Smashing Barriers" (Steve Tobin, approximately 2006) www.philart.net/art/Smashing... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art

Big abstract partial tennis ball and racquet sculpture. Oval grid of slats with a circle in the middle leaning at about a 15 degree angle. Either iron weathered steel. Sitting on the diagonal in a square white stone planter filled with small stones. In the background are pavement, a round planter with a tree, part of a one story building with a slanted roof, a fence, grass, a wall, more trees, and a partly cloudy sky.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · yesterday

Today's random page is Content: Griffins www.philart.net/content/grif... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: Art Museum Roof Ornaments, Julian Abele (Architect), 1928)

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 2d ago

Today's random page is Content: Water www.philart.net/content/wate... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: Gate at 23rd and Perot, unidentified artist and year)

Stylized cut steel surf made of splayed overlapping rectangles in front of palm trees and a jellyfish mounted on a gate of vertical and horizontal black iron bars set into the red brick wall and a concrete header. Also visible in the picture are some green leaves in the lower left, and a tan wood door inset into a concrete frame surrounded by glass block.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 3d ago

Today's random page is Artist: George R. Anthonisen www.philart.net/artist/Georg... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: "Athletics", 1983)

Two side by side white relief panels mounted on a red brick wall Each has a quarter circle cut out of one of the top corners so that there is a semicircle of brick at the top. The left panel has two basketball players and two people facing each other possibly wrestlers. The right panel has someone who might be a sliding baseball player and two football players.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 4d ago

Today's random page is Artist: Isamu Noguchi #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #arthttps://www.philart.net/artist/Isamu_Noguchi/174.html (pictured: "Bolt of Lightning", 1984)

101 foot tall steel sculpture. The base is a key with 4 diagonal supports splayed out from the bottom. The center is a lightning bolt. The top is a kite. Also visible in the picture are a stone wall with a couple of pillars, part of an American flag, the guidewires keeping the sculpture steady, trees, a highway sign, a water tower across the river in Camden, and a lot of blue sky.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 5d ago

Today's random page is Landmark: Saint Mary's Episcopal Church www.philart.net/landmark/Sai... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: Mary and Jesus, unidentified artist, probably 1897, the date of the building)

White stone statue of Mary and the infant Jesus, mounted on the red brick wall of the church on a ledge under a brown arch. Mary is holding Jesus in her left hand with his head just above her shoulder. She is carrying a bent scepter in her right hand, which is also at about shoulder height, and wearing a crown.. Jesus's right hand is raised and he is carrying a sphere in his left hand. Also visible on the right side of the picture are the green leaves of a tree.

Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 6d ago

Atwater Kent museum part 2. As soon as Drexel publicly disclosed its financial troubles years ago it should have been obvious that its external ventures led by John Fry would be in trouble too. Yet we the public are powerless to have any voice in its future

pork, cheese, broccoli rabe@garlicbuffalo.gobirds.biz · 6d ago

198 years and an unceremonious closure

Karen K. Ho @karenho.bsky.social · 2w ago

This gallery of ICE crop/seed art at this year's Minnesota State Fair is incredible, especially the one based on Pablo Picasso's Guernica by Jennifer Nelson, which features the last words of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Morse code: www.cropart.com/Resist.pdf

A seed art entry in the 2026 Minnesota State Fair based on Pablo Picasso's Guernica. It features a loon, the words "Ice Out" and two representations of Renee Good and Alex Pretti’s. Notably, the mouths of Good and Pretty include their last words in Morse code:
‘I’m not mad at you,’ and ‘Are you okay?’” The artist is Jennifer Nelson.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 6d ago

Today's random page is Content: Boats, Ships, Sails and Oars www.philart.net/content/boat... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: detail from the I-95 Sound Barrier Reliefs (unidentified artist and year))

Tan abstract relief of a ship on the water in a frame, inset into a red brick wall inside a frame of bricks that are a brighter red. There are semicircles and slanted lines representing the water, a basic boat shape with five circles representing portals, 2 ovals representing foresails, 3 larger ovals representing main sales and 3 smaller ovals in the back. Also visible are bits of 3 of the tan corners of the brick frame, and a patch of sky in the upper right.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · last wk.

Today's random page is Artist: Lee Lawrie www.philart.net/artist/Lee_L... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: detail from the Fidelity Mutual Building, 1926-1927)

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · last wk.

Added Saint Cecilia, Thomas J. Mangan (Architect), 1954 (possibly 1955) www.philart.net/art/Saint_Ce... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art

White stone statue of St. Cecilia, standing, wearing a cap, carrying a branch and a musical instrument (possibly a portative organ or xylophone) against her chest with her crossed hands. In the background are stained glass and yellow bricks.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · last wk.

Today's random page is Person: Henry Howard Houston Woodward www.philart.net/person/Henry... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: "Aero Memorial", Paul Manship, 1948, installed 1950)

Gold-colored bronze celestial globe on top of a round black granite column on top of two flat black granite squares. Also visible are pavers, walls, and benches that are part of the memorial, a lightpost, grass, leafless trees, the North wall of Moore, part of the Academy of Natural Sciences, parts of 4 taller buildings, and pale blue sky.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · last wk.

Today's random page is Artist: Thom Cooney Crawford www.philart.net/artist/Thom_... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: detail from "Homage to Georgia O'Keeffe", 1986)

Detail from the dark grey metal sculpture: a human figure from the waist up taken from the front. There is a triangle carved into the lower center of the chest. The left arm is straight down from the shoulder and then bent up at the elbow at about a 30 degree angle just below the triangle with the left hand wrapped around the right side of the chest. The partially visible right arm is straight up and blends into the neck and right side of the head. In the background are a low brick wall with a concrete cap, ivy, more concrete, a tree trunk on the right, and the red brick wall of a building.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · last wk.

Today's random page is Artist: Grumman Spacecats www.philart.net/artist/Grumm... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: Grumman Lunar Module, installed 1976)

Shiny grey and white restored Apollo lunar lander sitting on the grass. In the background are an aquamarine chair, a bench, trees, sky, and a 10 story tan brick building.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 2w ago

Today's random page is Person: George Clinton www.philart.net/person/Georg... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: detail from "Declaration of Independence", Tiequn Geng, Guangxi Qihe Bronze Studio, Dr. Komuro Hiromi, Dr. QiongZhao (Ellen) Schicktanz, John Trumbull, installed 2017)

Relief of people, some standing, some sitting, furniture, paper and pens, interior of Independence Hall. According to Wikipedia, Clinton is the third from the left of the three men sitting in a row in chairs in the foreground.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 2w ago

Today's random page is Artist: George M. Kelly www.philart.net/artist/Georg... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: "Our Lady of Grace", unidentified year)

Metal statue of Mary, probably bronze, mounted in a corner where two orangish red brick walls meet, hovering off the ground, leaning forward off the walls, arms down, bent at the elbows, hands slightly in front of her, palms facing in, wearing a long robe with a hood, feet bare, a halo behind her head.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 2w ago

Today's random page is the entry for the Port Richmond Firefighters Memorial (unidentified artist, 2005) www.philart.net/art/Port_Ric... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art #firefighters

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 2w ago

Today's random page is the entry for the Armenian Heritage Walk (Simon Koumjian III, 2026) www.philart.net/art/Armenian... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art

Curving walk with grey pavers and a very low grey stone border separating the pavers from flowers, bushes, and large Armenian rocks that line the sides. Near the top of the picture is the Meher statue and around the base of the statue is a ring of pink pavers. Trees and sky are visible in the background.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 2w ago

Today's random page is the entry for the fence at 4th and Delancey (unidentified artist and year) www.philart.net/art/Fence/73... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art #fence

Arched brown metal fence between two white stone columns with 2 dimensional plants, and animals. There is a grey metal cat on top of the column on the left starting to leap toward a mouse at the top of the fence. The interior of the fence is primarily composed of tree trunks, branches and leaves, with tufts of grass along the bottom. One of the branches has a small three dimensional bird house attached. Thee are two dogs, a large one standing with its forepaws on the left column looking up at the cat, and a smaller dog on all fours facing the larger dog.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 2w ago

Today's random page is Person: Don Quixote www.philart.net/person/Don_Q... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: detail from "Don Quijote de la Mancha", Joaquin Garcia Donaire, installed 1966)

Detail from the statue of Don Quixote taken from the front and below. From left to right the horse's head and neck, the man from the chest up, and the top of his shield. Both the horse and the man are looking uo, the horse slightly toward the right of the picture and the man slightly to the left of the picture. The background is a clear sky.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 2w ago

Today's random page is the entry for the LOVE Park copy of "LOVE" (Robert Indiana, 1976) www.philart.net/art/LOVE/239... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art

Red metal sculpture of the word "LOVE" in all caps and a serif font, arranged in a square with the L and O on top and the V and E on the bottom. The O is tilted to the right at a 45 degree angle. The picture was taken looking up from the front. Also visible i are the top of the stainless steel base, and in the background buildings on the left, the jet of a fountain, and a clear blue sky.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 3w ago

Today's random page is the entry for "Lincoln the Lawyer" (Emil Seletz, 1968, donated 1979) www.philart.net/art/Lincoln_... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art #Lincoln

Bronze bust of Lincoln, his head tilted slightly down and to his right, on a steel plinth in front of a vertically striped white stone wall. The photographer, sidewalk, a trashcan, a lamp post, some bushes, and the mostly red wall of a building across the street are reflected in the plinth.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 3w ago

Today's random page is Artist: Robert Sanabria www.philart.net/artist/Rober... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: "Origins I", 1980)

Abstract concrete tree sculpture standing at the back of a circular base that has three levels and a chunk missing (intentionally) from the front. The piece is on a large area of grass. In the background are sidewalks, a parking area with cars, a real tree, a row of houses, and a partly cloudy sky.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 3w ago

Today's random page is Person: Freddie Gray www.philart.net/person/Fredd... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: "Remember Me", unidentified artist, probably 2020)

13 pieces of painted wood attached to a chain link fence under the arch of a bridge. The board on the top is white with black lettering and says "REMEMBER ME". The board on the left is painted blue with pieces of yellow tape that spell out "Did the Right Thing" . The remaining 11 boards are vertical, white with black letters with the names of Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, Philando Castile, Stephon Clark, John Crawford, Jordan Davis, Jonathan Ferrell, George Floyd, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray, Trayvon Martin, Laquan McDonald, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Alton Sterling and Breonna Taylor. Taylor, Floyd, Gray, Davis, Arbey, Brown, Gardner, and Martin are each on one board. The others are listed on a board that says "Too many"

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 3w ago

Today's random page is the entry for "Giant Three-Way Plug, Scale A" (Claes Oldenburg, 1970, installed 2010) www.philart.net/art/Giant_Th... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art #sculpture

Big sculpture of a brown electrical plug resting on one of the female sides at a 45 degree angle. The picture was taken from down the hill, facing the two gold-colored prongs which are jutting up also at a 45 degree angle . Grass, trees, and sky are also visible.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 3w ago

Today's random page is Artist: Raffaello Romanelli www.philart.net/artist/Raffa... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: "John Wister", 1903)

Life-size bronze statue of John Wister standing with his arms at his sides wearing a stovepipe hat.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 3w ago

Today's random page is the entry for "Religious Liberty" (Moses Jacob Ezekiel, 1876) www.philart.net/art/Religiou... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art

Marble statue of (from left to right) a boy, a woman, and an eagle standing close together. The picture was taken from the front of the base looking up. The boy is looking up and to his right, his right arm iraised over his head with the palm up, the left hand holding a bowl of flame at about shoulder height. The woman is looking slightly down and to the right, her right hand raised above her shoulder with the palm down and the fingers spread. The eagle is looking down and to its right with its right talon on a branch. There is a light grey wall behind them.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 3w ago

Today's random page is Year: 1932 www.philart.net/year/1932.html #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: one of the Market Street Bridge Carvings, Charles H. Stevens (Design Engineer), 1932)

Stone head attached to the side of the Market Street Bridge, centered in the picture looking left.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 4w ago

Today's random page is Artist: Ned Smyth www.philart.net/artist/Ned_S... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: part of "World Park", 1995)

In the foreground on the left is a large concrete grey sphere with thin straight red lines suggesting letters. In the background on the right a conical mostly gold-colored column with the wide end at the top. Also visible are the grey pavers, lots of shadows, some leafy branches and on the left a small piece of another column.

Philadelphia Public Art @ philart.net @philartdotnet.bsky.social · 4w ago

Today's random page is Artist: Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture www.philart.net/artist/Harts... #Philly #PublicArt #VisitPhilly #art (pictured: 2116 Chestnut Vent Covers, 2013)

Three identical black metal vent covers with plant-like forms cut into the metal, arranged in a vertical stack, framed by concrete, on a red brick wall.