Home to one of the largest collections of public art in the country, there's plenty to see in Philadelphia. Follow one of our self-guided public art tours below to uncover an array of sculptures around the city. Tours are grouped by location and highlight whether they are bicycle friendly, walking friendly, or both.

Bike and Walking Friendly


Dinosaur


Celebrating the (re)FOCUS: Then and Now Citywide Project


Philadelphia’s urban landscape has undeniably been shaped by women artists and their public art – creations both permanent and ephemeral. (Re)FOCUS on Women in Public Art is a self-guided tour that takes a closer look at some notable examples of these works in Philadelphia that still exist today. This exploration is part of (re)FOCUS, a citywide exhibition in 2024 that honors the 50th anniversary of the original FOCUS festival at Moore College of Art and Design in 1974. It was a groundbreaking exhibition that showcased works by 81 women artists, many of whom were working in multidisciplinary and pioneering ways. And if they weren’t working in public spaces yet, many soon would: infusing art into the public realm was a powerful way for many women artists during this time period to reinforce feminist agendas and make a name for themselves.

This tour will be a jumping-off point to not only put a spotlight on public art in Philadelphia by women, but it will emphasize the contributions women have made and will make to the public art field as a whole.

Bike Friendly

distance:
4 miles Round Trip

Not far from Center City on the other side of the Schuylkill River is University City in West Philadelphia. Accessible via 30th Street Station, this area is home to a number of colleges and universities, including the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. Many of the artworks on this tour are part of the University of Pennsylvania Art Collection.

Bike and Walking Friendly

distance:
2 miles Round Trip

Built in 1979 on the site of the former Horticultural Hall and 1876 Centennial Exposition building, the Horticulture Center is a modern exhibition hall and greenhouse in West Fairmount Park. Hours: 8am-6pm, April-October; 8am-5pm, November-March.

Bike and Walking Friendly

distance:
1.3 miles One Way

The Parkway’s renowned public art collection visually parallels the history of American sculpture. Running from the heart of Center City at City Hall to Fairmount Park at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Parkway has steadily evolved since the early 20th century as the city’s cultural mecca of art museums, educational institutions, and public artworks.

Bike and Walking Friendly

distance:
3.3 miles One Way

A remarkable collection of outdoor sculpture and Philadelphia’s historic Boathouse Row can be found along Kelly Drive, which follows the Schuylkill River through Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. The Trail is an ideal spot for walking, jogging, or biking.

Walking Friendly

distance:
1 hour Round Trip

Alexander Milne Calder’s colossal statue of William Penn stands atop City Hall, which covers four and a half acres in the heart of Center City. An artwork in itself with over 250 sculptures primarily attributed to Milne Calder, City Hall is surrounded by notable sculptures such as Claes Oldenburg’s “Clothespin.”

Bike and Walking Friendly

distance:
1 hour Round Trip

Both the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Philadelphia Museum of Art were completed in the 1920s, and since that time an impressive collection of outdoor sculpture has been placed in this area.

Walking Friendly

distance:
30 minutes Round Trip

Some of Philadelphia’s most beloved outdoor sculptures were realized through the support of civic-minded Philadelphians. A selection of these artworks can be viewed in Rittenhouse Square, one of the five original squares planned by William Penn in the 1600’s.