Institute of Contemporary Art — Attraction in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Institute of Contemporary Art is definitely one of my newest favorite museums in the city. This place was really refreshing, not just in terms of the open space and naturally available light, but also the exhibits.

I was forging enough to be able to see an exhibit by David Antonio Cruz a Puerto Rican born in Philadelphia and lived in New York. The exhibit was great and it is possible to find Puerto Rican artist and exhibited in places like the Institute of Contemporary Art. If you have an opportunity I would suggest checking this show Out. It offers a look into the artists thinking of what constitutes family and extended family. Another exhibit was called Movables and it was super funky I thoroughly enjoyed the sculptures and creative use of both materials and space. You can see many of the pieces in my photos.

The staff at this place are super chill! You can ask them questions and they gladly help you. Especially, the guard which you see in my photo. She actually gave my wife her own private tour and explained the sculptures to her. She is funny and very relatable. Kudos for a very cool staff. if you are in the area are close by you should definitely check out these exhibits.

The museum was thoroughly accessible. There is no place that a wheelchair cannot get to at this museum. The bathrooms were fully accessible as you can tell from the photos. As many of you know I do like a Museum gift shop. This one has a very small one which is fine as they are not a huge museum. It was street parking that was accessible which we were fortunate enough to find. I would recommend going to this place early as more parking tends to be available. Always remember if you're parsing Philadelphia and have a disability placard you must park between the two disability parking signs. That is the way they do it otherwise you will get a ticket....

ICA is honestly one of my favorite places in Philly. The front desk and security staff are always so welcoming, which makes it feel easy to walk in and spend time with the art.

I’ve attended at various times with both visible and invisible disabilities, depending on my capacities at the time, and I’ve always felt respected and never rushed or looked down on. And, full disclosure, I’ve also written exhibition reviews and interviewed exhibiting artists there over the years. As a critical thinker and art lover, there’s always something to really dig into.

The exhibitions are really well thought out — smart and surprising — and they’re not like anything else you’ll see in the city. ICA has this incredible history of showing artists before they become household names (my favorite, iconic artist, Agnes Martin, had an important early show here), and that sense of being on the edge of something important still runs through what they do today.

When I moved to Philly back in 2011, ICA was the first place that made me feel like I could actually live here. It wasn’t just another museum visit — it was exciting, interesting, and it connected Philly to the larger art world in a way that felt alive. Every time I visit, I leave with something to think about, some spark that stays with me.

And the best part? It’s free for everyone. Somehow that still feels like a well-kept secret, but it’s such a gift to the city. If you’re curious about art, ICA is absolutely worth your time.

It’s also close to other museums, cafes, green spaces, and venues on the university campus, which means you can easily find somewhere to take a break or make...

Stopped by this gallery when I took a trip down to Philly for work and enjoyed the experience. The staff/curators were super friendly and welcoming too! One of the artists with a solo exhibition was there to discuss their work so there was music, drinks, and snacks available as part of the event. They had both a group exhibit as well as a solo exhibit at the gallery and both of the overall topics and themes of the exhibits were so interesting and I enjoyed reading the story and ideas behind each artists' work. There were a variety of super thoughtful and intricate pieces as seen in the photos I captured. And it was just great to get out of that more strategic and business-centric state of mind and get the right side of my brain more active. Additional things to note - parking was a bit tough as the gallery is located on the UPenn campus so I had to find parking in a nearby lot and took a short walk to the gallery, so just one thing to keep in mind/plan ahead for. But overall had a pleasant time here and encourage others...