Frequently Asked Questions about the Magic Gardens Studio

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) is a nonprofit arts organization that inspires creativity and community engagement by educating the public about folk, mosaic, and visionary art. PMG preserves, interprets, and provides access to Isaiah Zagar’s unique mosaic art environment and his public murals.

PMG oversees multiple sites created by Isaiah Zagar, including the Magic Gardens Museum on South Street and the Magic Gardens Studio on Watkins Street.

The Magic Gardens Museum (1020 South Street) is open for general admission Wednesday – Monday from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. You can also visit the museum for tours, workshops, exhibitions, and other programs!

The Magic Gardens Studio (1002 Watkins Street) is not open for general admission, but workshops, tours, and other public programming take place at this location.

At this time the Magic Gardens Studio is only open for specific programs, workshops, and tours. Please visit the Magic Gardens Studio page or our calendar to see what upcoming programs are scheduled!

Guided Tours of the Studio take place every Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m., as well as additional dates.

The Magic Gardens Studio is located at 1002 Watkins Street, Philadelphia PA 19148. It is approximately one mile south of the Magic Gardens Museum on South Street.

The studio does not have a parking lot and street parking is limited. We recommend public transportation or walking/ biking when possible.

Visit SEPTA (septa.org) for maps and schedules.

Via Bus
Take the #45 SEPTA bus to 12th and Morris Streets. From there it is a 4 minute walk to the Studio.
The #47 SEPTA bus stop at 8th and Morris Streets is approximately a 5 minute walk to the Studio.

Via Subway
Take the Broad Street Line to the Tasker Morris stop. From there it is approximately a 10 minute walk.

Via Car
Use address “1002 Watkins Street” in your GPS system.

Guided tours are offered every Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. in addition to other dates. A knowledgeable PMG educator will lead a 60 minute tour of the first floor of the studio followed by some time to look more closely and explore on your own. The entire tour takes place indoors.

Tickets must be purchased in advance.

There is a variety of different hands-on workshops offered at the Magic Gardens Studio. Visit either our workshops page or the Magic Gardens Studio page for a full list of upcoming offerings.

We welcome visitors of all ages!

Please be aware that our space contains artworks that display the nude human figure. The Magic Gardens Studio was created by Isaiah Zagar as a journal of his life. He, like many artists over the centuries, believes the human figure is its own beautiful work of art. The works are present throughout the site, along with countless other themes and objects, and are not the primary focus of our space. Our staff are happy to answer any questions you may have about nudity in the space prior to your visit.

The studio has a limited amount of space indoors to park strollers. We recommend leaving strollers off-site or folding them up when at all possible.

Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Children under 16 years old will not be admitted without an adult. For the preservation of the space and the safety of all staff and visitors, we ask that visitors refrain from touching or climbing the artwork (including mosaicked walls, sculptures, and special exhibition works). Visitors who violate this policy will be required to leave the site immediately.

Child/dog friendly dogs and service animals are welcome at the Magic Gardens Studio! We ask that you keep your pet on a leash at all times and clean up after them.

Luggage and other oversized bags are not permitted in the studio and visitors carrying prohibited items may be refused entry. There is a coat rack but no area to store larger items.

Smaller bags and backpacks must be worn on the front of the body or handheld throughout the space.

The Magic Gardens Studio has a limited amount of space to park strollers indoors. We recommend leaving strollers off-site or folding them up when at all possible.

Some areas of the studio have narrow passageways where strollers may not fit.

Snacks are permitted as long as waste is properly disposed of, but there is no dedicated space for picnicking.

Visitors are welcome to bring in non-alcoholic drinks. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited during normal business hours. There is no water fountain at the studio and visitors are encouraged to bring water bottles if needed.

Some programming may provide food and drinks. Please check the details of that program on our website before attending.

Tripods and selfie-sticks are not permitted in the studio to help us protect the artwork and ensure access for all visitors.

The Magic Gardens Studio is approximately 9,000 square feet over two floors. Currently only the first floor is open for programming and is comprised of a mixture of open space and sculptural elements.

Yes, the Magic Gardens Studio has one gender-neutral restroom available to our visitors.

Unfortunately no! We encourage visitors to come prepared with their own water bottles.

We ask that you refrain from touching or leaning on any of the artwork (including all of the mosaicked walls, passageways, and all the objects sticking out of them) to protect both the artwork and yourself! Many of the objects in the mosaics are fragile and one-of-a-kind, and a lot of the tiles and mirror have sharp edges.

By not touching, you help us ensure that the Magic Gardens Studio will be here for other visitors to enjoy for years to come!

We encourage casual photography for personal use or social media. Tripods and selfie-sticks are not permitted to help us protect the artwork and ensure access for all visitors.

The Magic Gardens Studio is also available for photo shoots. Click here for more information.

Yes, the Magic Gardens Studio is accessible for wheelchair users. Please note there is a one-inch lip in the entryway to the studio, and some of the passageways between sculptural elements are narrow. The restroom is not currently wheelchair accessible.