Event Details
Event Date
Event Date: Friday, January 17, 2025 -through Sunday, March 23, 2025
Event Time
Event Time: All day
Event Description
On view: January 17 – March 23, 2025
Isaiah Zagar’s mural “The Skin of the Bride” on the walls of the former Painted Bride Art Center is a testament to his intricate and imaginative artistic vision. Completed in the 1990s, the 7,000-square-foot mosaic reflects Zagar’s signature style with its vibrant and eclectic use of materials. When the Painted Bride Art Center placed the building up for sale in 2017, the Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) team fought tirelessly for 5 years in attempts to protect the mural but were unsuccessful. When the mural faced demolition in 2023, the PMG preservation team worked diligently to salvage the unique tiles and components that made up the artwork. This exhibition serves as both a tribute to the mural and an archive of the community’s attempt to protect Zagar’s remarkable contribution to public art. It offers a poignant look at the process of trying to save a significant cultural artifact while looking back in time at Zagar’s creation of this lost masterpiece.
