Shattering Expectations at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
Step Inside an Immersive Mosaic Art Installation on Philadelphia's Historic South Street
Most museums hang art on walls for viewing. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens puts you inside the art itself, in a labyrinth of tunnels, grottos, and towers. Ceramic tiles Zagar made himself sit alongside folk-art pieces collected from around the world. Wine bottles jut from walls, their necks embedded in mortar, while bicycle wheels frame circular openings that let visitors glimpse the layers beyond. Mirror fragments catch light throughout the space, making this half-city-block on South Street shimmer and shift with every step.
Artist Isaiah Zagar began creating this space in 1994 at age 58, working on vacant lots next to his studio that he did not own. He spent over a decade excavating passages, building sculptural walls, and covering every inch with handmade tiles depicting folk art figures, personal memories, and abstract patterns. The result spans 3,000 square feet, with outdoor areas on two levels and indoor galleries. Mosaics extend from ground level through multiple stories of walls and towers. The basement reveals even more intricate work in enclosed passageways lit by natural light filtering through glass bottle ceilings.
The Magic Gardens emerged from a 2004 crisis when the owner of the vacant lots discovered Zagar’s unauthorized installation and announced plans to sell the land. Rather than watch the artwork destroyed, community members rallied to form a nonprofit organization that purchased the property and has since grown into a year-round attraction. This collective effort reflected South Street’s history of activism, including the successful 1974 campaign to stop the Crosstown Expressway that would have demolished the neighborhood.
The museum operates as a nonprofit organization independent of Zagar, though he continues creating tiles and small mosaics with assistance from the preservation team. His wife Julia, who has deep knowledge of Mexican folk art traditions, runs the Eye’s Gallery nearby and helped shape the aesthetic that defines both the Magic Gardens and more than 200 public murals Zagar created throughout Philadelphia and beyond. Visitors can explore several of these outdoor murals on surrounding blocks as part of guided tours or using a self-guided walking map.
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens offers several ways to experience the space. General admission provides timed, self-guided access to explore at your own pace. Morning Magic Tours meet before the museum opens for guided 60-minute experiences with museum educators. The most comprehensive option, the 75-minute Guided Site Tour, includes the outdoor sculpture garden, indoor galleries, public murals in the neighborhood, and access to the completely mosaicked basement that casual visitors do not typically see.
On the second Sunday of each month, PECO Family Jams offer interactive art-making, family tours, and creative workshops from noon to 4:00 PM. These programs require museum admission but no reservations. The museum also hosts monthly Twilight in the Gardens events, pairing musical performances with creative activities and time to explore independently. Throughout the year, rotating exhibitions in the indoor galleries showcase work by contemporary artists who share Zagar’s inventive use of materials.
For visitors interested in seeing where Zagar worked for fourteen years after completing the main site, the Magic Gardens Studio offers tours on Tuesday mornings and select dates. Located about a mile south at 1002 Watkins Street, this 10,000-square-foot former auto repair shop features two floors of mosaic work, including a completely covered car elevator. The ground floor displays walls built from folk art, handmade tiles, plates, and bottles, all lit by fourteen sculptural light fixtures made from salvaged materials by artist Warren Muller. The preservation team still uses this space to create tiles and repair mosaics, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how Zagar’s legacy continues.
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is located at 1020 South Street in Philadelphia. The museum is open Wednesday through Monday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, closed Tuesdays except for Studio tours. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for students, seniors, and visitors with disabilities, $8 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Tickets are timed and frequently sell out, so advance online purchase is strongly recommended. For tour schedules, current exhibitions, and ticket purchases, visit phillymagicgardens.org.
