Events List
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Walking Round My Head: Works by Stephen Wright
Description for Walking Round My Head: Works by Stephen Wright
Stephen Wright is a London-based mixed-media artist and creator of the art environment, the “House of Dreams Museum”. Since 1998, Wright has been turning his home into an immersive work of art by embellishing its walls with thousands of personal items and repurposed objects found at flea markets. In “Walking Round My Head,” Wright showcases portrait drawings, masks, tapestries, and textile figures that tell the stories of his daily life. Using beads, dyed fabric, jewels, bold lines, and even bolder statements, Wright gives us a look into his inner thoughts.
“The House of Dreams Museum” originally began as a project with Wrights’ partner Donald Jones. Jones worked alongside Wright until he passed away after a long-term illness in 2004. Shortly after, both of Wright’s parents passed away as well. The house became a transformative space for Wright to process his grief. He combines mementos from his deceased loved ones with collected objects found at flea markets and uses them to adorn the walls, floors, and garden, creating a personal diary of memories and daily reflections.
This exhibition, “Walking Round My Head” is in many ways an extension of the “House of Dreams Museum”, and is a reflection of Wright himself. His artwork connects us to deep themes of love, loss, and the human experience with all its laughter and tragedy.
Purchase works from the show at PMG or in our Online Shop
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Lost Landscapes: The ‘Skin of the Bride’ mural by Isaiah Zagar
Description for Lost Landscapes: The ‘Skin of the Bride’ mural by Isaiah Zagar
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.
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Stone Soup: Works by Eustace Mamba
Description for Stone Soup: Works by Eustace Mamba
On view March 28, 2025 – June 1, 2025
Pay-As-You-Wish Opening Reception: Friday, March 28, 2025; 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tour & Talk: Tuesday, April 1, 2025; 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.Eustace Mamba‘s artistic practice delves into the complexities of identity, culture, and history, with a particular focus on the Black experience in America. His multidisciplinary approach spans painting, collage, street photography, and mixed-media installations, with an emphasis on sewing as a storytelling tool. This technique allows Mamba to transform materials into vibrant, layered compositions that reflect both personal and collective struggles, as well as moments of harmony.
Mamba’s education at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts has been instrumental in shaping his artistic vision. He earned both a Master’s and Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the institution, grounding his work in a profound exploration of recognition, representation, and belonging for Black people in America—issues that remain deeply relevant in both historical and contemporary contexts.
His work often merges visual elements that contrast historical figures and events from Black history with imagery of contemporary Black life, particularly as it unfolds in East Coast cities like Philadelphia and New York. This blending of past and present creates a narrative space where viewers are invited to reflect on the complexities of race and identity across time.
Mamba’s art has garnered recognition in prestigious collections, including the Woodmere Art Museum, the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Through his innovative use of materials and concepts, Mamba continues to spark critical conversations about the cultural richness and resilience of Black communities, while expanding the role of contemporary art in driving social change.
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Works by Katie Kaplan
Description for Works by Katie Kaplan
On view June 6 – August 10, 2025
Pay-As-You-Wish Opening Reception: Friday, June 6, 2025; 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tour & Talk: Tuesday, June 10, 2025; 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.Katie Kaplan is a Philadelphia-based multidisciplinary artist whose work spans printmaking, sculpture, textiles, video, and installation. Holding a BFA in Sculpture from Pratt Institute, Kaplan’s practice is deeply informed by both material exploration and social engagement. Currently serving as the studio technician in the Fibers and Material Studies Department at Tyler School of Art, Kaplan also maintains a natural dye garden—an ongoing project that merges art-making with ecological stewardship. Kaplan’s art has been showcased in various solo and group exhibitions across the United States, and she has participated in artist residencies in both New York and Pennsylvania.
Kaplan’s work is rooted in cultural organizing, activist art, and mutual aid. These values manifest through her commitment to collaborative and community-centered art-making. Her current body of work focuses on the environment, particularly through the lens of vibrating landscapes and
close-up examinations of fungi and foliage. Her print and poster series, which are deeply connected to environmental, queer and gender activism, serve as both a personal and political expression, addressing identity, visibility, and social justice. Through her work, Kaplan seeks to forge connections between the personal, the political, and the ecological, creating art that speaks to both the natural world and the ongoing struggles for equality and inclusion.Event Badges
