Museum and Gallery Guide

Art Museums

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA): Since our founding in 1805, PAFA has been committed to fostering and collecting American art. Noting the collection’s breadth and quality, scholars have deemed it “among the three strongest collections of American art in the world.” The permanent collection offers colonial masterworks by John Singleton Copley and Benjamin West; major contemporary examples by Richard Diebenkorn, Red Grooms and Faith Ringgold; and several of the nation’s most significant artworks, including Thomas Eakins’s Gross Clinic and Winslow Homer’s Fox Hunt. The collection also includes works by many of PAFA’s instrumental founders, teachers and students, including Eakins, Charles Willson Peale and Mary Cassatt. 118-128 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102. 215-972-7600. www.pafa.org

Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA): The PMAhouses more than 225,000 objects, spanning the creative achievements of Asia, Latin America and the United States. The European collection dates from the medieval era to the present, and the collection of arms and armor is the second-largest in the United States. The American collections are among the country's finest, as are the expanding collections of modern and contemporary art. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130. 215-763-8100. www.philamuseum.org

Rodin Museum: The most renowned and significant collection of work by Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917) works outside Paris, this marvelously intimate museum includes bronze castings, plaster studies, drawings, prints, letters and books. Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19101. 215-568-6026. www.rodinmuseum.org

Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA): Located in the West Philadelphia neighborhood known as University City, the ICA is nestled between two of Philadelphia’s major academic institutions: Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania.  Founded in 1963, the ICA is a leader in the presentation of contemporary art. 118 South 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. 215-898-7108. www.icaphila.org

The Barnes Foundation: The Barnes Foundation is home to one of the world's largest collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings. Founded by Dr. Albert C. Barnes, it is one of the most significant private collections in the country, with extensive holdings by Picasso, Matisse, Cézanne, Renoir and Modigliani, alongside many exceptional examples of African sculpture. 300 Latches Lane, Ardmore, PA 19003. 610-664-2582 (A new campus on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway opens in May 2012). www.barnesfoundation.org

African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP): The AAMP is home to an amazing collection of objects and illustrations that chronicle and dramatically unfold the story of African American culture. A massive assortment of art, artifacts, period clothing, furniture, military weapons, industrial tools, musical instruments, photographs, diaries, documents, records, books, journals, paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, fiber and mixed-media works comprise its captivating collection. 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. 215-574-0380. www.aampmuseum.org

The Fabric Workshop and Museum: Originally considered an ambitious experiment, the Fabric Workshop and Museum has developed into a renowned institution with a widely recognized Artist-in-Residence Program, an extensive permanent collection of works created at the Workshop, in-house and touring exhibitions and comprehensive educational programs that include lectures, tours, in-school presentations and student apprenticeships. 1214 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. 215-561-8887. www.fabricworkshop.org

Galleries

Old City Gallery District: The historic Old City district is a place of unique people, significant history, charming shops and a vibrant evening scene. Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center and the Liberty Bell Center are a few of the countless accessible attractions. Old City is located on the waterfront of the Delaware River, along the eastern shore of Center City. Many of Philadelphia’s most popular galleries are located here, scattered along 2nd and 3rd streets, between Vine and Market streets. Nearly all of the galleries in Old City participate in Philadelphia First Friday, opening their doors on the first Friday evening of each month.

Notable galleries in Old City:

Notable galleries outside Old City: