The Association for Public Art is over 150 years old and we have stories to share – take a walk with us and hear them!
Public Art Decoded is a series of four annual walking tours that will look in-depth at the sculptures and installations that exist in popular Philadelphia locations. The tours will explore how and why the artworks exist, the artists behind them, the untold stories, and provide both a historical and contemporary contextualization.
In 2025 the Association for Public Art will be leading tours at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, at the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial, in Rittenhouse Square, and in the Old City neighborhood. Each tour will feature a partner, a guest speaker, a presentation of archival visuals, or a fun activity.
*Map design by Ana Thorne for the Association for Public Art
Horticulture Center: Art Meets Nature in an Urban Park
Saturday, April 26, 2025
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Explore the grounds of Philadelphia’s Horticulture Center and its collection of over a dozen public sculptures. How did this seemingly disparate group of works come to live together? Learn how this destination has evolved since the 1876 Centennial Exposition and the role it has played in the development of Fairmount Park. Co-led by Mike Lewis, Program Manager at Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center, who will end the tour at the iconic landmark. Join us after the tour for a fun surprise activity at Shofuso.
*Certain works of art have limited accessibility.
$15 Non-members | free for members
Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial: Icons & Myths
Saturday, May 31, 2025
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Explore the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial with aPA and curator/professor Brittany Webb. Learn the story behind this enigmatic site nestled between the Schuylkill River and Kelly Drive, and the iconography behind the 17 plus sculptures.
*Certain works of art have limited accessibility.
$15 Non-members | free for members
Brittany Webb is the inaugural Evelyn and Will Kaplan Curator of Twentieth-Century Art and the John Rhoden Collection. In this role, Webb oversees the Museum’s collections, exhibitions, and programs of 20th century art and provides instruction for the School of Fine Arts at PAFA. Prior to joining PAFA, Webb was a curator at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. Dr. Webb holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Temple University and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Southern California.
Rittenhouse Square: Urban Design & Visual Art
Saturday, September 20, 2025
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Take a break from the historic Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show to learn about the site and art of this historic park. Joined by the Friends of Rittenhouse Square, you’ll learn all the fun facts, the unknown stories, and why the park looks the way it does today.
$15 Non-members | free for members
Old City: Public Art in the Birthplace of America
Saturday, October 18, 2025
4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Explore the birthplace of America and the varied sculptures that inhabit its streets. From works commissioned for the bicentennial in 1976 to site-specific installations, this tour will take you through over 250 years of our country’s history. We will be joined by Old City District’s executive director, Job Itzkowitz, and end at Cuba Libre for happy hour. Let’s talk about the long history of public art in Philadelphia!
$15 Non-members | free for members
In addition to our public tours, private tours are always available to book for any kind of social or business occasion. Email jperciasepe@associationforpublicart.org to inquire.