Public Art in Philly: Five Pieces That Visit Philly Staffers Love

This might not be the most original take, but the Common Threads mural — featured in countless articles, on social media and even an episode of This is Us — is my fave. Each of the eight-story-tall mural’s young subjects imitates the pose of an 18th-century figurine. While the historical figurines are purposefully displayed as cold (and exclusively European), their modern-day, teenaged counterparts are diverse and filled with life. At the center of the action is a young African American woman confidently looking out at you. It’s timeless — and everyone can see themselves reflected back.

I love the Electric Street mural on Percy Street in South Philly. The anchor is a neon-lit mural that looks awesome at night, but the entire street is a living work of art. Local artists regularly add their own artwork to the alleyway, so even in the daytime, it’s this little whimsical place. It’s so close to a really iconic part of Philly — the intersection of Ninth and Passyunk with Pat’s and Geno’s — and then, just a couple of blocks away, there’s this tiny little street that’s just magical.

My favorite piece is a newer one: Finally on 13th in the Gayborhood. It’s the first mural dedicated not just to LGBTQ+ culture in Philly, but specifically to ballroom culture — the underground community founded by Black and Brown queer folks as a safe space to express themselves. I had the pleasure of going to the unveiling, and I got chills. The whole community was there, and it was very clear that there’s a need and want for these stories to be told and preserved. Philly has all of these beautiful murals, and now, Black and Brown LGBTQ+ Philadelphians have one that we can claim for us and this community.

One that I always love seeing is called we dreamt an orchid this way by Gina Kim and Kien Nguyen. It’s painted on the outside of Vietnam Restaurant (which won a James Beard Classic Award last year) on the second floor, so if you’re walking through Chinatown, you can look up and see it. I gravitate toward color, and when the sun hits it, the mural is so vibrant and beautiful. And it embodies so much of our culture. You have the Lunar New Year celebrations with the dragon and fireworks; the Friendship Gate; the sense of community; and the powerful statement, “Together we stand against hate.”

For their great backstory and relative obscurity, I pick the four eagle sculptures on the Market Street Bridge. My dad told me about the statues after Visit Philadelphia launched a big advertising campaign at New York’s Penn Station last year. The works are from the original Pennsylvania Station in New York, which, despite its history and iconic architecture, was demolished in the 1960s. Instead of depicting true-to-life eagles, the artist created them to be large and idealized, bringing so much power and intrigue to the sculptures. They’re relics from an amazing piece of architecture that no longer exists.