Philadelphia Art Galleries

There are a number of art galleries in Philadelphia that will just “WOW” you with collections by some of the world’s greatest and most well-known artists.

If you have heard of such great artists like Picasso, Degas, Cezanne, and Matisse… Then you will likely be amazed by seeing their works of art in such a great setting.

Read more about the art galleries and works of art on view at select museums here.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

This iconic Philadelphia cultural landmark is located at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The vast collections of priceless art make it the 3rd largest art museum in the nation.

The Philadelphia Museum has large collections in Renaissance, American, Impressionist and Modern art. Noteworthy pieces include a Rogier van der Weyden altarpiece, a “Bathers” piece by Cezanne, an entire room devoted to Philadelphia’s own Thomas Eakins, and a Marcel Duchamp mixed-media Bride Stripped Bare by her Bachelors (The Large Glass), exactly as the artist created and placed it.

The museum has over 75 rooms defining the collection of time periods, showcasing art ranging from medieval times to Indian temples. The museum regularly hosts visitors with shows to organize different exhibits, displaying works from Degas to Cezanne and others.

There is an important aspect of the History of the Museum itself… It was founded during the nation’s first centennial in 1876 as a museum of decorative arts, but soon after outgrew the space in the original Fairmount Park Memorial Hall. Once moved into the latest building (opened in 1928), takes the shape of three adjoined Greek temples.

The chief designer Julian Abele was the very first African-American graduate from the University of Pennsylvania’s architecture school. The designer was inspired by temples he visited during a trip throughout Greece.

The Barnes Foundation

Scheduled to open again in the Spring of 2012, the new location of the Barnes at 20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be open to the public six days a week. Visitors from around the world make the journey to this destination in Philadelphia to view 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes and 59 Matisses, along with works by Manet, Degas, Seurat, Prendergrast, Titian and Picasso.

One important note about the Barnes is with the way the art is displayed – symmetrically arranged according to size, and often paired with artifacts and furniture (think: African sculpture, Pennsylvania Dutch folk art, antique Chinese paintings) organized around themes and formal elements. The scheme is the physical manifestation of the teachings of the man who collected the works, Albert C. Barnes.

The Newman Fine Art Galleries

These art galleries were established in Philadelphia in 1865 and deals art works from 19th century American & European through contemporary American & European art.

Specializing in early 20th century American art, the galleries place a high emphasis on the works of “Pennsylvania Impressionists,” which also include works by local artisans in and around Philadelphia.

The Newman Fine Art Galleries are family-owned and operate, with 5th generation of family still actively involved with the galleries. Throughout it’s 146 years, the Newman Galleries have changed locations in Philadelphia to accomodate for growth of the collections and exhibits on view.

The Locks Gallery of Art

The Locks Gallery was founded in the year 1968, so this is part of Philadelphia’s longstanding passion for the arts. The Locks Gallery represents a large collection of well-respected contemporary artists that encompass a wide spectrums of artistic disciplines.

The gallery exhibition program displays new works by artists and introducing their work to a global stock of visitors and tourists.

Art exhibitions include works by the essential artists of the 20th-century; Louise Bourgeois, Robert Motherwell, Louise Nevelson and George Segal, are just some of the regular highlights to be seen here. Some of these works are presented by the artists themselves, others in cooperations with the artists estates. These art exhibitions are a unique opportunity to view an rare works in a museum-type atmosphere.

Since the inception, the gallery has fostered vital connections with local Philadelphia artists, which shows the committment to the city’s passion for the arts.

Brandywine River Museum of Regional & American Art

This Philadelphia, PA museum has a reputation for its outstanding collection of artworks by the Wyeths and a thorough collection of still life portraits, illustration, as well as some landscape paintings. There is also a focus here on the 19th-century period, with a tie-in to Philadelphia’s input to the arts.

The James A. Michener Art Museum

This museum dedicated to art opened in 1988, as an independent, non-profit cultural institution dedicated to preserving works of art that highlights the talent of local artists hailing from Bucks County, PA.

When opened, The James A. Michener Art Museum was named after Doylestown, PA’s most “famous son”, who was the Pulitzer-Prize winning writer and supporter of the arts who had been the energy behind the movement to have a regional art museum in the early 1950 and 60′s.

In 1999, Museum announced it was the recipient of a large collection of art by regional artists from the local impressionist art school.

One interesting note, this art museum features an outdoor gallery which is fashioned or themed as a courtyard with lush proportions, landscapes and has sculptures. The museum hosts nationally touring exhibitions and regional artists too.

Seraphin Art Gallery

Seraphin Gallery is a Philadelphia contemporary art gallery featuring American contemporary art by painters, photographers, and sculptors. The reputation of this gallery is that it is one of Philadelphia finest galleries.

The gallery is well known for including “blue chip works” in what some refer to as “the secondary art market.” The art works here are some by abstract artists and expressionists, as well as some colorful pop art.

The gallery was founded by Mr. Seraphin, whom was an early pioneer in the photography-art with his collection featuring photos of Thomas Eakins.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Visit America’s oldest museum and school of fine arts, which houses a renowned collection of famous American works of art spanning four centuries.

Rodin Museum

See the largest collection of Rodin sculptures and drawings outside of Paris.