Best of Philly

Best Art Gallery

2021 Best Source For One-of-a-Kind Art

Kamihira

Those in the know can snag one-of-a-kind (yet modestly priced) art objects made by the community of artists and makers in the broad Kamihira universe. The gallery, which exists online after closing its Kensington location during the pandemic, has a constantly changing array of artists making everything from colorful quilted pillows to embroidered tote bags to sweatshirts with hand-drawn artwork. Read More »

1206 North 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA Website

2021 Best Reason to Revisit the Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Frank Gehry Renovation

There was lots of handwringing in the local art community (and the museum and architecture worlds as a whole) over what controversial architect Frank Gehry might do to our beloved world-class art museum — just google “Guggenheim Bilbao” to understand the cause for concern. But when his $233 million renovation was unveiled in May, we were pleasantly surprised — shocked, really — to find pure elegance at every turn. Read More »

2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA Website

2021 Best Art and Design Destination on the Main Line

Trace Shop

Come for the cool wares — like cement-and-geode planters or Lord Jones CBD — but stay for the pillar of Marny Baxt’s business: the art. The former talent management exec dreamed up Trace after the passing of both of her parents, when she was faced with sorting through their personal art collection. Baxt wants to connect the community with creatives and make it easy to obtain and custom-frame one-of-a-kind works. Read More »

80 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore, PA Website

2019 Best Secret Art Gallery

Spogue Kitchens & Bath

Yes, it’ll be hard to walk past the marble countertops and custom Shaker cabinets, but keep your eye on the real prize: the collection of 20th-century drawings and paintings procured directly from renowned art markets in France and waiting for your walls. Read More »

302 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA | 610-902-9860 | Website

2019 Best Place for Affordable Art

DaVinci Art Alliance

A white-box gallery nestled in a newly renovated rowhome, this 88-year-old nonprofit exhibits and sells fantastic original paintings, sculpture and photography by local artists — many of which are under $500 apiece. Read More »

704 Catharine Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-550-1446 | Website

2019 Best New Way to Find Art

The Philadelphia Fine Art Fair

Last April, a crew that puts on renowned fairs in the Hamptons and beyond transformed the 23rd Street Armory into an art collector’s shopping spree; 34 galleries displayed contemporary and modern works from more than 300 artists. And it’s happening again next spring. Read More »

| 631-283-5505 | Website

2018 Best Place to Discover Up-and-Coming Artists

Paradigm Gallery + Studio

Unpretentious Paradigm showcases about-to-make-it-big artists from all over the world but has a special focus on locals like Hunter Stabler, whose exhibit of mesmerizing paper-cuts opens in September. Read More »

746 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA | 267-266-0073 | Website

2016 Best Secret Art Gallery

Vox Populi

Climb three floors through the graffiti-festooned stairwell into this experimental art gallery, where there's something oddly delightful around every corner. The best times to visit are on First Fridays or for the sporadic live band shows, at which the music tends to be as strange and fun as the art that's on the walls. Read More »

319 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-238-1236 | Website

2014 Best Art Gallery

Fleisher/Ollman

This unassuming gallery near Chinatown is a gem for connoisseurs and nascent collectors alike, with a fantastically diverse selection that ranges from contemporary mixed-media pieces to the 20th-century masterworks that put the place on the map. Plus, prices are reasonable. Read More »

1216 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-545-7562 | Website

2013 Best Art Gallery

Arch Enemy Arts

When the folks at this Old City space claim that their gallery is Philadelphias freshest new venue for the new contemporary art scene, theyre really not lying. The one-year-old gallery exhibits some wonderful works in genres from realism to figurative to pop surrealism, and the art is priced to sell. This month, check out the newest show, Semiotic Weapons, featuring works by 11 local artists. Read More »

109 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-717-7774 | Website