Just a short SEPTA ride away (and a short walk from 30th Street or Suburban stations), the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a massive pantheon of art, housing one of the largest collections in the country. The cultural significance, amazing architecture of the building, and notorious artists and pieces housed here makes this museum a must-see for Swarthmore students and people visiting the Philly area. The museum houses more than 240,000 works spanning 2,000 years, including cotes of medieval armor, painting by Renoir, Van, Gogh, and Picasso, one-acre of outdoor sculpture garden, a complete 14th-century Buddhist temple, Victorian-Era rooms and beautiful furniture, and of course, the iconic Rocky Steps. Additionally, the building itself is a relic. The world-renowned architect Frank Gehry has led a major transformation of the interior design in recent years. A new north entrance gallery opened in the Fall 0f 2019, and new public spaces and galleries opened in May 2021.
The experience of this museum is one unmatched. As someone who comes from a museum family, learning to disdain them from a young age, but finally finding my way back since high school, I have been to many impressive museums. And I love this museum! This exquisite art is easily accessible to Swat students and greatly encouraged in classes, such as through art history class trips! The vast collections of art comes from around the globe and through the ages, including Renaissance, American, East and South Asia, Impressionism (a fan favorite and my personal favorite), and contemporary masterpieces. Some of the standout pieces include The Large Bathers by Cezanne, and works from Philadelphia’s own Thomas Eakins and Marcel Duchamp. One of the most attention-grabbing and enveloping pieces I have seen here is Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
This museum also hosts various events for college students and children. Additionally, on Fridays after 5pm and the first Sunday of each month, tickets are pay what you want (this is particularly nice for college students)! The museum has a commitment to engaging college students, youth, and underrepresented visitors. Curators of the Philly Museum of Art have various ongoing and completed projects dedicated to colonialism, imperialism, and the voices of those historically suppressed by art and the art world—a 20,000-square foot new gallery space has been added and filled with art rethinking the story of Philadelphia and the nation. I am grateful to have already been twice this spring semester and hope to go back again. Much to my surprise, even with hours of walking the halls, I still have not seen the full museum in one go; that is my next goal! Also, the gift-shop is amazing, with many Rocky homages and Eagles memorabilia.
