The city has more than 4,000 murals, considered the cradle of America

Philadelphians are very proud of their city, as it is also known as the first “World Heritage City” in America. This title appreciates Philadelphia’s history, geography, and culture.

Besides, this place also received many other nicknames such as City of Love, “Cradle” of America, City of Cheese Steaks, City of murals.

If you are an art lover, when you come to this place, you will probably be overwhelmed by the colorful murals on most of the large buildings. Paintings appear everywhere you go on the streets of Philadelphia.

The variety of paintings allows Philadelphia to boast that the city has the largest outdoor art gallery in the world. You can easily see the beautifully decorated paintings outside the buildings, on the overpasses… It is estimated that there are nearly 4,000 murals in this city.

Every few hundred meters you will see a mural. There are some paintings that are so creative that you can’t even imagine. Walking around the city is a favorite pastime of visitors to this place.

This city is truly a heritage lover’s paradise, with many well-preserved old buildings. Plus there’s the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Each mural was created with different themes, sizes and colors over the course of several decades. The artists who draw them come from many different communities, which adds to the diversity.

The paintings include scenes of nature, animals, cities, people, vehicles, etc. Some of the works are titled but others are very abstract, each with their own interpretation.

The murals adorn the city, created and maintained by a nonprofit called the Philadelphia City Mural Art Program, which began in the 80s.

Originally, mural painting was a way of dealing with the graffiti problem at the time. The organization started as the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network or PAGN at the urging of then-Mayor W Wilson Goode. The founder and director of the Mural Arts Program is Jane Golden.

Later, murals were created as a way of “healing” the city. Gradually, art exploded, changing everything. It is America’s largest public art show. The number of murals is increasing every year.

“How Philly Moves” is the city’s largest mural, measuring nearly 26,000 square feet, stretching along a parking garage at Philadelphia International Airport. It is also said to be the 2nd largest mural in the world. One of the city’s most iconic murals is “Common Threads” eight stories high.

The average cost to complete a painting is from $25,000 to $30,000 ($578-700 million). The most expensive mural the program has created is Philly Painting at a cost of $500,000 (11.5 billion VND). Designed by Dutch artists Haas & Hahn, Philly Painting spans four blocks of Germantown Avenue, creating a geometric design with abstract colors across more than 50 adjacent storefronts.

Philadelphia’s outdoor art gallery thrives in partnership with the city’s government, residents, especially artists, and local businesses, all of which contribute in their own way.