See special exhibition PHILLY-BASED through this Sunday, December 4th. Featuring 13 international artists now based in Philly, the show is colorful and vibrant like our neon collection. Read more about it in this piece from Peter Crimmins for WHYY News.
On view November 11, 2022 through December 4, 2022
Opening reception: Saturday, November 12, 2022 from 12pm to 5pm
The Neon Museum of Philadelphia and illustrator Jessica Carvajal present 13 international artists who currently practice in the city of Philadelphia. PHILLY-BASED celebrates the creative contributions, flavors, and styles brought to the city by these artists, representing Philadelphia’s strength as a hub of cultural diversity.
Featured artists:
Lara Cantu-Hetzler (USA)
Chau Nguyen (Vietnam)
Lauren Whearty (USA)
Yuliya (Ukraine)
Linda Fernandez (Cuba)
Ziania Narvaez (Mexico)
Daniel Mendez (Colombia)
Annabel Perrigueur (France)
Madeline Conover (USA)
Nicola Wescombe (UK)
Paola Lambertin (Bolivia)
Jessica Carvajal (Colombia)
Karina Puente (USA)
Curated by Jessica Carvajal.
We’re grateful for your support and for our partnership with NextFab and all of our neighbors. Beyond its residence at 1800 North American Street, we would love the Museum to continue elsewhere in some form.
We’re seeking a new home for the collection that allows it to stay unified, local, and publicly accessible. Ideally, partnership with a local institution could make this dream possible.
Stay tuned for further announcements related to the future of the Neon Museum of Philadelphia. Let’s keep the lights shining and Philly culture burning bright.
Thanks for your support.
Sincerely,
Len Davidson, Founder
And the Staff of the Neon Museum of Philadelphia
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For all inquiries, please contact Alyssa Shea: info@neonmuseumofphiladelphia.
Art/Rock/Revelry curator Alyssa Shea walks WXPN through the exhibit of flyers, zines, and oral history from Philly’s 80s underground scene.
NMOP founder Len Davidson sat down with KYW Newsradio‘s original podcast The Jawncast to discuss our neon collection, sign preservation and Philly history. Click here to read the article. Click here to listen to the podcast. You can also listen on any podcast player.
Explore Philly’s vibrant era of do-it-yourself spirit and dance-til-you-drop passion through show flyers, posters, zines, photos, recordings, and oral history.
While touring acts saw Philadelphia as a place to warm up before their New York gigs, local artists didn’t shrink in New York’s shadow, but fostered creativity and community in converted warehouses, night clubs, record shops, clothing stores, and college radio—reveling in their independence from the mainstream.
We’re talking punk, post-punk, new wave, no wave, art rock, poetry, fashion, and performance in places like East Side Club, The Hot Club, The Wet Spot, Funk Dungeon, Omni’s, Starlite, Painted Bride…the list goes on and continues to expand throughout the life of the exhibit, as we want to hear from you!
See our display of artifacts from personal collections, listen to the music, watch videos of old performances as well as new interviews with those who were on the scene—artists, musicians, DJs, revelers—and then make your own contribution. We’ll have materials and wall space dedicated to the ongoing documentation of this rich tapestry of Philly music history and culture. Share your story!
Presented in collaboration with Brewerytown Beats, JoeyBruno MusicArchives, Red Pedal Media, and Jere Edmunds, with contributions from Jim Meneses, Bobby Startup, Dennis McHugh, Joe Ankenbrand, Kenn Kweder, Sheva Golkow, Elliott Levin, Rikki Ercoli, Matt Marello, Frank Blank Moriarty, and more! Produced by Alyssa Shea.
Entry to the reception is covered by a $10 Museum admission ticket. Advance tickets available here; walk-ins welcome.
Join us for our first foray into live music on Friday, June 3rd, from 7pm to 8pm with Philadelphia’s Birdie Busch. Her music pairs wonderfully with our current exhibit, City of Love: Artists Inspired By Philadelphia.
Imagine soaking in neon, art, and music all at once — all for the regular $10 admission. Members, as always, enter for free.
You can pay for admission in advance or pay at the door. A ticket for any time between 4pm and 8pm tonight will get you into the show.
“When asked what the most impactful piece is, Carter had difficulty pinpointing one piece but shared ‘Bradley Maule’s work is one piece in this show that is about love and loss” and describes how these creative photographs of an intact home that quickly became an empty lot represents an impactful message of the show “you gotta love and cherish before it’s gone.'”
Click here to read the full article about our City of Love exhibit from the Broad Street Review.
City of Love is on view through June 19, 2022.
Len Davidson joins The 215 to discuss how his sign collection turned into the Neon Museum of Philadelphia. Click here to watch the interview.