New pop-up art exhibit focuses on city’s history of revolution [photos]

A new art exhibit focusing on revolutionary acts will be popping up around Philadelphia. Starting on Thursday, “Revolutionary: A Pop-Up Street Art Exhibition” will appear in the city’s historic district.

Presented by Visit Philadelphia and curated by photographer Conrad Benner, the exhibit will feature the original work of 13 artists — one for each star on the original American flag.

“Philadelphia has always known a thing or two about revolutions,” said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of Visit Philadelphia. “That’s why an exhibition centered around revolution in the headquarters of the American Revolution makes perfect sense for the historic district this summer.

“It’s a great opportunity for local artists to push the boundaries and make positive statements about change,” she said. “And it gives locals and visitors a fun, free and interesting reason to explore the neighborhood.” 

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

The exhibits will pop up at different venues around Old City, Society Hill and the Delaware riverfront.

Benner, who runs the art blog Streets Dept, said the forms of resistance and revolution cover the vast spectrum of history.

“I thought more about small revolutions,” Benner said. “The fight for marriage equality and the civil rights movement. All of those revolutions — if you want to call them revolutions — start with people looking at the world around them and asking, ‘Can we do better for myself and my neighbors?'”

“All revolutions have one thing in common,” he added. “That is people looking at the world around them with a critical eye. “

The exhibit will be shown indoors and outdoors through July 4.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal