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 was a self-guided tour designed to highlight notable examples of these contributions that endure in Philadelphia today. This exploration was part of (re)FOCUS, a citywide exhibition in 2024 that honored the 50th anniversary of the original FOCUS festival at Moore College of Art and Design in 1974. That pioneering exhibition showcased works by 81 women artists, many of whom were were trailblazing in multidisciplinary approaches. For those not yet working in public spaces, many soon would: integrating art into the public realm became a powerful way for women to advance feminist agendas and make a name for themselves.
The following artworks were included in these tour, which served as a platform to not only spotlight the public art created by women in Philadelphia, but also to underscore the significant contributions women have made—and will continue to make—to the field of public art.
TOP IMAGE: Diane Burko, Wissahickon Reflections (1996). Photo courtesy of the artist.
Related Artworks
Artwork
Phaedrus
(1974)
by
Beverly Pepper (1922 - 2020)
Federal Reserve Bank, 100 North 6th Street
A 12-ton sculpture at the Federal Reserve Bank building that thrusts from the ground at an implausible, gravity-defying angle.
Artwork
Bicentennial Dawn
(1976)
by
Louise Nevelson (1899 - 1988)
James A. Byrne Federal Courthouse (interior), 601 Market Street; Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., M–F; security check-in required
Commissioned by the General Service Administration’s Art in Architecture program, this Louise Nevelson sculpture was dedicated during an elaborate reception in January 1976, at the dawn of the bicentennial year.
A three-piece mural in the Marriott Hotel lobby that captures the natural beauty of the Wissahickon Valley’s winding creek and environs.
Artwork
China Wedge
(1994)
by
Mei-ling Hom (b. 1951)
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Arch Street Concourse (interior)
Comprised of over 20,000 porcelain tea cups, rice bowls, and soup spoons, China Wedge symbolizes and calls attention to the Asian American immigrant experience in Philadelphia.
Two highly decorative and symbolic mosaic murals commissioned by developer Richard I. Rubin as part of the overall renovation of One Penn Center.
Known for her intricate works in the medium of pop-up books and paper art, Colette Fu created a series of square tunnel books that memorialize the Free Library’s historic stacks.
Atmosphere and Environment XII is a product of the mature style of Louise Nevelson, one of the most influential artists of the decades following World War II.
Artwork
Brick House
(2019)
by
Simone Leigh (b. 1967)
Woodland Walk at 34th and Walnut Streets
This bronze bust of a Black woman by artist Simone Leigh references Batammaliba architecture from Benin and Togo, the teleuk dwellings in Chad and Cameroon, and the restaurant Mammy’s Cupboard in Mississippi.