Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia was voted "Best City for street art" in the USA TODAY Readers' Choice Awards 2023 contest. Philadelphia is awarded for its thousands of colorful sculptures, murals, and other outdoor art displays.
Philadelphia Mural Arts
After a thorough review, a panel of experts, including editors from USA TODAY, 10Best.com, and other travel sites, nominated Philadelphia as the winner. The public then voted Philly the winner, beating out destinations such as Miami, Houston, and Atlanta.
Mural Arts Philadelphia, which is celebrating its 40th year, has produced more than 4,000 works of art. Through a collaborative approach rooted in the tradition of mural-making, Mural Arts brings together artists and communities to transform public spaces and lives.
Mural Arts began in 1984 as an antigraffiti initiative and has evolved into a leader in community-based art. Mural Arts was founded to bring transformative experiences, progressive discourse, and economic stimulus to Philadelphia. This is done through public art that beautifies the city, advocacy that inspires, and educational programs and employment opportunities that empower.
Philadelphia has many firsts in the United States, such as the first Percent For Art program, introduced in 1959. This program requires that new construction projects or major renovations include public art site-specific to the project budget in an amount equal to 1%. Philadelphia has led to integrating art into public spaces for many years. This pioneering model is now being replicated by other cities.
Visitors can find street and public artwork in Philadelphia's quietest streets and busiest areas. Philadelphia's most important public art list can be found at visitphilly.com.
Philadelphia's street-art scene is where artists from all backgrounds create works that address social issues such as race, diversity, and immigration. They also focus on climate change, justice, and other topics. Staple pieces are Philadelphia's 1,100-square-foot Juneteenth mural, painted by Keisha Whatley in the Germantown area; the 3,000-square-foot Sanctuary City Sanctuary Neighborhood mural created by Betsy Casanas with Chilean artist Ian Pierce to highlight the strength and resilience of immigrant communities (257 N. 5 th Street); The stamp of imprisonment: James Andersonmural designed by Shepard Fairey which raises
