Isaiah Zagar is the artist responsible for scores of mosaic murals made from found objects, discarded bottles, bits of broken ceramic and mirror, that have proliferated across South Philly. This elaborately mosaic-covered house was his first home in the neighborhood. The front door is painted with a gold self portrait of Zagar with six arms standing above his mantra 'art is the center of the world.'

The neighboring alley is also plastered with Zagar murals, while a block further west is the artist's ongoing masterwork Philadelphia's Magic Gardens.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

0.16 MILES

The ongoing life's work of mosaic mural artist Isaiah Zagar, this is a folk-art wonderland of mirror mosaics, bottle walls and quirky sculpture. Zagar's…

2. Autumn Revisited

0.23 MILES

It's forever a golden fall in this beautiful work by David Guinn on the side of the Fleisher Art Memorial. The trees in the mural blend in seamlessly with…

3. Fleisher Art Memorial

0.23 MILES

A wide variety of classes and workshops are held at this art school, founded in 1898. Parts of the building are worth a look as it includes the Romanesque…

4. Mother Bethel AME Church

0.25 MILES

This major historical building is the birthplace of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church and is the oldest piece of real estate continually owned…

5. Frank Rizzo Mural

0.29 MILES

A giant mural of ex-mayor Frank Rizzo overlooks the Italian Market parking lot on the corner of Montrose St. It's one of the most regularly vandalized…

6. South 9th Street Italian Market

0.33 MILES

One of the most vibrant parts of South Philadelphia, this several-blocks-long commercial strip is lined with produce stalls that sell their wares under…

7. Washington Square

0.38 MILES

On the northwest edge of Society Hill, this attractive tree-planted square dates back to William Penn's original city plan. In the center is the Tomb of…

8. Famous Franks

0.39 MILES

The walls outside Dirty Franks are decorated with this witty mural by David McShane featuring Frank Sinatra, Frank Zappa, Aretha Franklin, Benjamin…