Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

The gift shop never disappoints — its card selection is always reasonably priced and of the highest artistic quality. Museum Store Manager Vy Dang is one of the kindest people one can ever meet. She’s a bright light and a true creator in every way—she really takes the time to get to know customers’ needs, offers tailored suggestions to help find the best item, and even recommends arts programs in the Philadelphia area. She is just an authentically nice person. Just meeting an artist and genuinely lovely person like Vy makes a visit to the store a must. The sculpture display at the adjacent museum is also beautiful! Dora Savignac’s Ukrainian Plea stoneware brought tears to my eyes. A true gem in Philadelphia!

The main building is closed for renovation, I've visited exebition only. Around 4:00 PM they were already rushing to close the second floor. The young woman at the ticket office was staring at me without even attempting to smile, as if I had personally offended her. Overall, William Villalongo's work is worth a look, but if you are not a connoisseur - do not waste your time.

Parking isn't great but the museum is. Two levels and high ceilings feature student art, local artists, and classic art. Would love to come again.

A great place for contemporary art that I always visit while in Philadelphia

Temple students get in for free! Cool place with interesting pieces. There's no particular order to where the pieces are, it's all kind of in the same place. There's currently a theme they have going called "Swarm." Their gift shop was great too.

Excellent art museum and art school that highlights both local and national artists from diverse and rich backgrounds. Their continuing education program for all types of art is wonderful and highly recommend. Also recommend becoming a member. Excellent for CE classes!

Free admission on President’s Day, the day we visited. This art museum is spacious, neatly laid out, and well-curated overall. The ‘World War I and American Art’ exhibition was of particular interest, showing the public response to the war and what life in the battlefield was like, especially for those who experienced it first-hand. Stayed for two hours, which was enough to see all exhibits on two floors.

Well-curated collection that included emerging young artists as well as past graduates and faculty.

I visit museums without pre-conceived notions, reading reviews generally after the fact. PAFA -- as it's known -- is a good one. Founded in 1805 the academy is the first school and museum of fine arts in the United States. The historic landmark building is closed for renovations with three stories of exhibits now housed in their Hamilton Building (which is NOT named for Alexander!) Several things impacted me: the galleries are wide open, light and airy. A pleasure to walk through. A number of items from the Atwater Kent collection -- formerly the Philadelphia History Museum -- are on display. The diverse collection ranges from baseball, department stores (Wanamakers, anyone?), civil rights ... the list goes on. There is student and alumni art for sale and casts of Greek and Roman antiquity located in an active student workspace. As with most museums, exhibits change. The gift store with its friendly proprietor, is as good as any I've been to. A beautifully curated collection, and after Thanksgiving, I believe everything is discounted 30% for the holidays.

Great local arts (and oldest fine art) Enjoy their occasional events. V inclusive and alternative. Friendly and clean

Both indoors and out, this place is beautiful. The building on the right has three floors of gallery space with a beautiful mix of framed artwork plus some sculpture, a very pleasing sampling of artistic styles. The top floor had a single artist exhibit currently featuring Philip Cohn. He's a local NJ/Philly painter known for his beach paintings and a few of the Mummer's Parade, a favorite childhood memory for me. The building on the left has elaborate architectural details both indoors and out, and features large installation pieces of contemporary artwork. Definitely recommend visiting.

Only had time for one museum visit today and I picked PAFA. From its website I saw that a new student exhibit was displayed in the 2nd building. When I walked into the first building, I was amazed by its architecture. The detailed columns and wall tiles was the backdrop for the beautiful art displayed on each floor. Outside, the building were 2 pieces of sculptures; a paint brush and bent airplane. Both were well worth my visit. The art exhibits ranged from European paintings to modern student art. Variety was abundant here.

There are two sections to this museum. The modern side and the classic side. The modern side is as expected. A lot of drawing, photography, experimentation. The classic side is also to be expected: classic artists, lots of brush strokes, a lot of white folk. But together, they both make a great experience. And the architecture of the older, "classic" side makes for an experience like out of "Alice in Wonder Land." Ticket fee is 15 dollars and worth it. You get a small modern art museum and a small classical art museum (with fantastic and Instagrammable architecture), but there is a great public space between the two, and a small cafe. A great place to enjoy a morning or afternoon. And close to city hall, the Masonic temple, and many other attractions.

PAFA is the first and oldest art museum and art school in the US. I visited the museum a few weeks ago when I was in Philadelphia on a solo trip. It's known for its collection of 19th- and 20th-century American paintings. There were some great exhibitions when I visited: "Making American Artists: Stories from PAFA, 1776-1976" and "Evade or Ensnare: Decorative Illusionism in Historic and Contemporary Painting." Tickets are $18 for adults and you can reserve your tickets online. (They are closed Monday-Wednesday.) But one of the highlights of the museum is one of the two buildings that make up the museum - PAFA's Historic Landmark Building. It's considered one of the finest surviving examples of Victorian Gothic architecture in America (a Frank Furness). I was in awe of the building - talk about maximalist design! PAFA doesn't get as much attention as some other art museums in Philly (there is so much good art in Philly), but you should absolutely keep it on your list to visit! A great collection and a really special example of Philly architecture to boot. Well worth visiting.

3.5 stars. At first I was disappointed with this place--thought I paid $18 only to find that two of the main galleries were closed. Fortunately there was a whole other section in the building next-door--the permanent collection--that made the admission more worth the price. Good place to check out if you want to see something different downtown that might be a little less crowded than other museums.

Gorgeous architecture and love the huge art works outside the building. When I walked pass, I couldn't help to check out this museum. Lots of great paintings and sculptures. Very interesting!

I attended a conference in Philly that hosted our opening night mixer at PAFA. Walkable from our hotel in the downtown area, PAFA is hard to miss with the giant paintbrush out front. The building is architecturally stunning, from the tile floors to the grand staircase and crown molding. The artwork, the statues - stunning in grandeur. Add in cocktails and appetizers during an event and it's even better.

I went to school here in the late 80s. The good: If you want to learn how to create fine art, especially representational art, it's hard to beat the Academy. The bad: If you want to make a decent living, own your own home, have a reliable car, maybe a kid or two, keep looking. This place is strictly fine art, the kind lots of people want to make, but very few want to buy. Realistically, you're going to have to get a teaching job or marry money to make art and survive.

Breathtaking! The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Is of my favorite museums of all time! We found it while visiting other downtown attractions. We visited on a free day which was an added bonus. The museum is housed in one of the most architecturally spectacular buildings you will ever see. The artwork is displayed in beautiful galleries that wind down from the top floor. The range and scope of the artwork on display is really astounding as this is not a huge museum. Cannot say enough good things about the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Go visit!! You will surely enjoy your visit!

What, I surpassed 400 reviews?! This review is for one of their Mural Arts trolley tours, specifically, Mural Masterpieces West ($30 general admission). They also offer trolley tours through Center City, and to the East of Broad Street, as well as walking tours, train tours, and segway tours to see the rest of the "City of Murals" public art. Easy to check-in at the PAFA lobby to get your official sticker indicating you're with the tour group, the trolley was already waiting outside on the curb prior to departure. There is one tour guide who is mic'ed while the trolley is in motion, to tell you all about the pieces along the route. Mad props to the trolley driver lady, she must be a magician by shrinking down the bus to make tight turns, and for driving slowly when possible so we could see the artwork a little longer when not able to get down from the trolley. It was a very informative tour, sharing the history of the public mural arts projects surrounding neighborhood youth crime and prisoner programs, the artistic process of designing a new piece and executing it on special cloth rather than directly onto the walls, as well as the different artists, styles, and reasons for selecting particular locations such as schools. There was some really great imagery including Martin Luther King, Jr., animal theme near the Philadelphia Zoo, one of Patti LaBelle, Tuskegee Airmen, one addressing teen suicides, as well as one depicting patients at the Children's Hospital, etc. Some newer murals to be dedicated (as of early August 2015) included one for the baseball team, the Phillies, as well as one commemorating the Papal Visit, with an image of Pope Francis to be painted at a particular parish/school. It really does seem like the Mural Capital of the World!

I really wished we had entered the building. Had I known it was free to go inside, I would've totally gone inside! We did have the outside art installations which my nieces loved especially the paint brush. The airplane was prety cool as well. But definitely go at night as they do light up and look a whole lot cooler.

One of my favorite galleries I've visited. It contains contemporary student works as well as traditional american artists. Three levels in the first building and two in the other. It was not crowded at all on a sunday. I had the whole place to myself! Student admission is $12 but some students from local universities will get in for free. Took me about 2 hours to see everything at a leisurely pace

We visited the museum yesterday afternoon and *loved* it. The permanent collection includes many lovely paintings & sculptures and it's housed in a beautiful old building; the interior architecture in particular is gorgeous. There's an adjacent building with a temporary exhibit on the main floor (that exhibit was quite interesting) and an upper & lower level gallery. The lower level had a large exhibit of High School students' summer (Academy) works and we were very impressed with their artistic talent. The staff were all very friendly (especially the second-floor guard in the main building) and there's also a nice cafe (see my separate review).

I was here for the first time the other night for the PAFA after dark event and it was awesome! The building is beautiful, large grand staircases, high ceilings, lots of different rooms with paintings. The event was amazing! For only $10 we got admission, coat check, delicious Starr catered food (hummus, tzatziki, tapenade, pasta salad, chicken, chick pea salad, and some other delicious salad), craft station to make valentines and paper flowers (I fricking love crafts), and entertainment in the form of pin the leaf on the nude AND a burlesque show which was definitely the highlight of the night! It was also hilarious seeing a somewhat older art crowd unsure how to react to the dancers...who stripped down to their underwear, sang, and danced their way around this awesome space. Some husbands were definitely going to be in the doghouse later for oggling these amazing dancers. There were also discussions going on somewhere which we missed because we were so busy with crafting! Drinks were $5 each and the gin martini special was super strong and delicious! Would definitely recommend attending events like this in the future or holding an event here! The only downside was that the acoustics in the place were terrible and we were only a few feet away from the emcee and we couldn't understand anything he was saying!

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) consists of two buildings and two sculptures in between the buildings. There's an enormous orange paintbrush the size of a small building and an airplane between the Historic Landmark Building (which houses great interior architecture) and the more modern Hamilton building. PAFA was established in 1805 as the first art school and museum in the country. Their Historic building houses a lot of work from their alumni as well as other American paintings, lithography prints, and sculptures from the 19th and 20th century. I spent a lot of time admiring the brush strokes on the oil paintings. Some of them are done so well and look three-dimensional from far away! Both buildings also featured the artwork of Norman Lewis, an abstract/cubism artist hailing from Harlem, NYC who tried to capture the social movements of the 1920s, especially the struggles of African Americans in an urban environment. Admissions is $15 for both buildings ($12 students and free with student IDs from some PA schools).

The lack of reviews shows what a hidden gem this place is. Looking stately on Broad, this place is completely gorgeous. We entered in the modern wing next door to the main museum. You pay for tickets at the cashier in the gift shop and then you're on your way. "The Female Gaze," an exhibit showcasing female artists past and present, was really interesting and different from anything I've seen before. The emotion and focus on the self, children, the home, and sexuality was really moving (then again, I am a female). It also struck me that when you go to a museum almost every single piece from every era is made by a man, so this whole other perspective was really refreshing. It was interesting also how women portray their own bodies and bodies of other women versus the classic male-depicted female form. Not to mention the second floor offers a great view of the classical building and Broad Street. Admission gets you into both wings, so off you go to the other building where you're greeted with stunning architecture and "The Gross Clinic" by Thomas Eakins, which seems to be the major work of the museum. This building has a small collection of American art and sculpture and you'll see your old friends Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln quite a bit. Go check this place out. Also, as a perk, jf you're a Bank of America credit or debit card holder you get in free the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. Total win.

I can't believe that I grew up here and never visited this place until now! Just north of City Hall is an art school founded by some notable American artists (Charles Wilson Peale and William Rush) and business leaders. Notable alumni include Mary Cassatt, Maxfield Parrish, Robert Henri, and even David Lynch. It's the oldest museum and art school in the country. Their collection of American Art is interesting, focusing on the 18th and 19th century in the landmark Furness and Hewitt-designed building (a sight to see itself!). But you'll also see some new works. I saw an exciting installation in cooperation with the Fabric Workshop and Museum (another visit to add to your Philly itinerary). I enjoyed seeing works by Hassam, O'Keefe, Hopper and Parrish. There's a lot of portraiture, if you enjoy that, and some neo-classical sculpture. Oh, and there's some Eakins painting of a surgery--perhaps you've heard of it--The Gross Clinic--that the Academy now shares with the Museum of Art. Be sure to go next door to the new building at 128 Broad Street for the sculpture and contemporary art. There's some exciting stuff happening over there. Since it changes regularly, I won't tell you what to expect. Portfolio, the gift shop, has really interesting jewelry and gift items, and you can stop in any time. I recommend gift shopping here instead of the mall.

Great place to visit if you have an hour or two and want to see some great art and some great architecture. There's the old historical building that houses older works (some of them are enormous) and sculptures and there are modern works next door. And a crashed airplane full of plants, a giant ass paintbrush, and a big orange swirl of poo in between the buildings. Make sure not to miss the student gallery which changes often in the basement of the Hamilton (more modern) building. A must-see exhibit is when PAFA students display their artwork (a lot of which is for sale) on three floors of the Hamilton Building in May of every year. For even more fun, make sure to visit when the students open their studios for public tours on the upper floors of the Hamilton Building. The staff here are very friendly and there is ample parking close by. It's only a few blocks from Love Park and Reading Terminal Market in case you want a break or a bite to eat.

Before even looking at the artwork in this museum, I was completely awed by the gorgeous architecture. That itself was worth the price of admission, so much so that I look forward to going back to take in that enveloping beauty again. In addition to the museum's 19th and 20th century American paintings and sculptures, we saw awesome works by contemporary artists throughout the museum. Great find!

Of course what caught my attention to visit PAFA this past month was the KAWS exhibit that is still going on until January 5th, 2013. If you don't know KAWS you may have seen his work before without knowing. He designed the most recent moon man for the 2013 MTV Music Awards. What I loved about this museum is the KAWS pieces were blended in with the permanent pieces in the PAFA's art collection. So you get a mixture of classic contemporary art and then a surprise splash of pop culture and bright colors from KAWS' work, which isn't often done in other exhibitions or museums. As well as they have separate galleries and exhibitions inside the building with the gift shop as well. The one currently on display reflected the beautiful murals and graffiti displayed all throughout Philadelphia. PS If you're a student show your ID and get a discounted price!!

Went here to check out the KAWS exhibit. Pretty nice. Not that much of an art guy. Went here on a saturday afternoon. For some reason it was free that day for Temple students with ID (normally $15) wish they had better items in the gift shop (which was located in another building right near PAFA)

Well this was a worthwhile spot to visit. Recommended by a local art gallery, we spent some time hawking at the artists we have only read about in art history books. The architecture made us swoon and we stayed long enough to know we need to visit again. Great collection.

I just graduated from the Master's program at PAFA, and would recommend it to any serious art student looking to learn amazing techniques and better their work---great faculty and wonderful classmates. The museum at PAFA is also a great place to see a comprehensive survey of American art.

The 1-star review assumes that the reader, like me, mostly knows and likes post-1900 art. Well this place is basically just for 19th century American art. For myself, I feel there has been great, fun American art, but almost all of it is post-1900. The 19th century I can leave to historians to worry about. If you are a fan of 19th century, then I would think it's 3 or 4 stars. Yes, there is some modern art, typically work of students or recent grads. But it makes no sense since there is just not a critical mass to make any kind of effect. The only pieces I saw on my visit were abrasive. When I visited, the Hamilton building had no exhibits, and three galleries in the original building were closed for changing of exhibits. But even if those were open, it's still not a major museum. Vastly smaller number of artworks than the Philly Art Museum or the Barnes. It's lovely that they run an art school which is over 200 years old. But I'm here as a visitor, not an art student. Again, I am making no comments on how good an environment this would be for students, since there is no way to tell from a visitor's experience.

PROS: The old building. David Lynch exhibition, incredible architecture, great salon style gallery, incredible old portraits and sculptures. Just the right size small but not tiny museum. CONS: The new building. Horribly mounted Eiko photography exhibit, uninviting layout, crappy student artwork, crappy professors' still life works. Yawn. What a gem. I have lived in Philly for three years but it was the David Lynch exhibition that finally got me to PAFA. The exhibition was really well installed in large beautiful galleries with so much space to enjoy the work. It was a real pleasure. And a fantastic detail of note - whom ever picked the pale purple background wall color for the Lynch exhibition, you nailed it. It was so nice to not see contemporary work against a stark white background. While my main interest these days is modern art, their collection of American paints and sculpture dating back to the 1700s is stunning and just the right size to enjoy for half an hour without feeling overwhelmed. The building itself is incredible inside, not just the ornamentation but the layout, light, and flow of the rooms is just spot on. I wish I could say the same for the new building next door. Our experience there was maybe a two star. There was an Eiko photography exhibit installed on a grid going up a two story wall, so most of what you were looking at was a good 10 - 20 feet away. I really like Eiko and Koma and was eager to see her photos. The ones at eye level were gorgeous but it was so horribly installed I couldn't really take any of it in. The other work in the rest of the building was amateur hour: boring still life paintings from professors and a student show curated by two profs. If what I saw speaks to the current talent of the student body, I was super unimpressed. It looked like high school work at best. It was quite startling to see compared to the work by master students in the main building ranging from Peale to Lynch.

Oldest art museum in the western hemisphere......one of the world's best collections of American art .... an ingenious and iconic main building from the creativity of Frank Furness ... a very useful modern addition with an outdoor plaza ... what's not to like about the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia?

PAFA isn't the must see art museum in Philly but it's worth a couple hours of your time if you're an art fan. There are two buildings - the historic building in of itself is a draw, but I am not a fan of most of the art they have there. However, if you are a David Lynch fan, do stop in to see "Six Men Getting Sick", which was his first short film. Between the historic building and the new building, you'll find the Oldenburg and the Griska sculptures, both worth your time to take a look out. In the contemporary arts building, there are quite a few standout pieces. Be sure to take in the views of the city from the upstairs floor to ceiling windows. The gift shop is in this building as well. Like most art museum gift shops, it is full of cool artsy treasures.

Still lovin' PAFA - even moreso after seeing the Henry Ossawa tanner exhibit - and the yummy brunch sponsored by PECO. We love the gift shop, too - for unique gifts with an artsy twist. Don't miss PAFA!

The Academy is a part of American art history. From the Peale paintings of Washington, to the Furness building itself, the academy has played a central roll over two centuries in nurturing artistic vision in such great painters as Thomas Eakins and Mary Cassatt. The gallery itself is stunning... with intricate detailing, and skylit galleries and bold colors, the both enhance and distract from the art itself. Two permanent Tiffany windows take your breath away with their delicate intricacy and vibrant color. Special exhibits here are small, sometimes as small as one room, enabling the curators to make concise statements without sapping the energy of the patron in a marathon experience that leaves a patron exhausted rather than exhilarated. All in all the Academy, along with the Philadelphia Museum, the Rodin Museum and the Brandywine Museum are must dos for the art lover of the Delaware Valley.

Gorgeous interior and a fantastic antiquities and art collection. On the first stop of the last night of the October AMM conference, we spent quite awhile cocktailing it in the upper foyer. I was just wandering alone for most of this evening, drinking in all of the details of every sculpture & painting I came across. The gallery guards were all very nice and I chatted one up for awhile asking what it was like to work there and live in Philly. Not quite as large as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but definently worth a visit for the sumptuous interior. Plus, take awhile to contemplate the large painting of Thomas Eakins, Portrait of Dr. Samuel D. Gross and the interesting history behind the founding of PAFA as a museum, a school, and it's collection.

I went to PAFA when they hosted a knitting circle in front of Peter Blume's beautiful work, Tasso's Oak. I did partake in the circle, knitting to my heart's content, and I also perused the artwork that Mr. Blume left this world, a highly underrated collection I must say! The museum itself is beautifully laid out and they even have a cafe. I highly recommend this place.

Frank Furness is the man. One of my all time favorite architects. I love the building itself, both the outside and the inside. I'm also a fan of the art collection inside - impressive to look at. I like the fact that they highlight past students and faculty of PAFA, and as one other reviewer mentioned, a wide variety of woman artists. The newer building is also enjoyable and the two together will definitely provide you with a well-rounded art viewing experience. Most recently I attended the KAWS PAFA After Dark event - it was totally cool! The juxtaposition between the modern and classical art was visually interesting. They had a DJ playing, breakdancers performing, alcohol, cheese and other snacks, and all the hip people of Philadelphia in attendance. I was impressed by the work of PAFA to integrate the old and the new into a perfect mixture.

We drove up to Philly just for the David Lynch exhibition. PAFA was conveniently locate in the city center it was a short walk from the hotel. The PAFA building was a wonderful space to spend a few hours. It had an interesting architecture and well maintained. The David Lynch exhibition was very enjoyable it was spread over three levels, the art installation was on the first floor, some drawings of the people who attended PAFA during or around David Lynch's time was on the second floor and the main exhibition was on the top floor at the very end. I learnt a lot about the director it was very enjoyable experience! Hope to visit PAFA again next time!

Truly a world class museum. The art is top notch, and the subjects of much of the the art is right here in Philadelphia. The descriptions that accompany the art gives you a great self tour too. Many times I feel mixed feelings when visiting museums but here it was 100 percent positive and thought provoked. I would definitely come here again.

I was pleasantly surprised by this museum. I went a free day, not necessarily knowing what to expect. The gallery is not huge, though is fairly sizeable. There are a smattering of paintings by very famous artists, and quite a handsome collection of works by artists who are less well known. As a point of comparison, the Barnes Foundation just down the street may boast a lot of works by historical important artists. However, the quality of most of those works is rather "meh." In contrast, the Academy does not necessary have dozens and dozens of Renoirs, but what they do have is pretty wonderful. You could easily spend a couple of hours here if you wanted to take your time, though I found that about 45 minutes was about right for me, knowing that I'd probably return at some point.

I'll admit my bias upfront: I adore art gazing. The PAFA is perfect for that. Housed in two buildings, the older one was the first fine arts school in the nation. It contains beautiful, classic portraits of historic figures like Washington, the Peales and King George III. "The Gross Clinic" is here. Although there are a lot of paintings on display, the galleries are few in number and large enough that a viewer is not overwhelmed or daunted by all there is to see ( the architecture, with its airy feel, helps--there is only so much room). The visit is quite manageable. You could go through in an hour and have a great experience. Of course, you can linger longer and dive more deeply into whatever strikes your fancy. What is fantastic about the older building is that, when there are exhibits of newer works, the pieces are positioned in dialogue with the longstanding paintings. That keeps things fresh, allowing you to look at the older and newer works in refreshing ways. It's great on PAFA's part that their curatorial team is so creative. The newer building is alright. The first floor houses changing shows. It's a nice space, pretty run of the mill. The second floor has huge galleries that contain items from the permanent collection: sculpture, painting and drawing. If you're short on time, start with the older buildIng. It's definitely worth the time and money.

I had the dilemma of having to find a space that was interesting yet nice enough for a corporate event. In swoop in the creative and very helpful team of Judi (events coordinator) and Helene (catering). Not only did they work with our budget and special needs, but they also provided a wonderful and friendly staff. They also helped us when we need suggestions for where to go for AV stuff. Sure PAFA is great for art, but it is also great for events...weddings even. I have to say also that in exploring the museum, their museum shop is great! Lots of fun and inexpensive gifts and doodads....

I'd had a decent time, but angry security guard decided to get abusive regarding a discounted parking pass I was offered - and on my way out it didn't work and I had to pay full price. What's that all about?

So, I haven't been here in a while, but, from what I remember, this place was awesome. I went with my art class to see the Horace Pippin exhibit a bunch of years back, and we got a private tour of the behind-the-scenes area, where the students actually work, and they had a life-sized statue of Michaelangelo's David. Cool, right? The student artwork was unbelievable. And I looked into taking an art class for fun here at some point, and the prices seemed reasonable. I hope to sign up for painting or something sometime soon, so I'll update my review if I do. But, so far, this is a great place to visit as a spectator.

Go see Birth of Cool! Best exhibit I have seen in years.

This museum isn't very large but well worth a visit. It pales in comparison to the Philadelphia Museum of Art but if you are an art freak make sure you stop and visit. Lots of Eakins to see. My favorite piece in this museum is a Winslow Homer painting of a red fox being intimidated by a crow. Don't even try to park near this place though... take the bus. There's no parking available.

Small, beautiful, nicely curated museum. I have been in both halves: the new museum and the one housed in the Furness building. I loved both experiences. If you are taking kids to a museum this is a nice experience. My 3 year old was impressed by the very large paintings. I thoroughly enjoyed the Frank Furness original architectural drawings of the museum on display.

Perhaps my favorite museum in Philly--I love American art, and this is THE place to see it. It's a beautiful space--well, two spaces, actually, and both worth seeing. It's also a manageable museum--you don't feel overwhelmed, and you can see all you want to see without any problems. I love it here. The Academy is a treasure.

Great Museum! After moving to Philadelphia I had to see the Warhol B&W and Polaroid exhibit at PAFA. The museum is a great open space and within walking distance from the train station. We went on a Sunday, early in the afternoon, so it was very quiet and perfect for a stroll through the various exhibitions. Even after moving here from DC (where the museums are free) PAFA was definitely worth the cost of admission.

As we were the only people in this majestic building, I conclude that the Academy of Fine Arts is not one of the more popular museums in Philadelphia. It should be. A beautiful, grand space filled with carefully curated examples of early American and later works with a real point of view. We enjoyed it.

Are you feeling bored on a Sunday? Low on cash? Need to kill some time? Then head on over to PAFA. They have free admissions on Sundays until April 6, 2014. Your welcome i just saved you $15. Sundays are also a great day to go, certain streets are free parking. I just wished we came couple weeks earlier to see KAWS. I love, love, love the historic building. As soon as I walked in I was amazed at the colors and architecture. I could see why private events are held here. The historic building had decent galleries; the collections were more historic than the new building. The new building was currently exhibiting mural arts of Philadelphia.

Two museums for the price of one ($15.00) Fine Arts Museum was very cool. The current exhibit of MURALS was very informative. Next Door is the original/historic institute. Many paintings and sculptures to admire. Need at least 2 hours to see both. Beautiful.