Dreams of Julia, c. 2008

Isaiah Zagar

mixed ceramic, wooden frame

29" L x 17" W x 2.25" H

Don't miss your chance to own a piece of Philadelphia history! In a city known for its murals, Isaiah Zagar's work stands out in glittering splendor. This beautiful framed mosaic is indicative of Zagar's practice, bringing together disparate textures, colors, and forms to create an assemblage that demands close looking. At the center of this piece is a large terracotta colored oblong with the artist's self portrait. Similar to Zagar's other self portraits on view at Philadelphia Magic Gardens, this image shows Zagar with four right arms. This representation is meant to convey the artist at work, applying pieces of mosaic at such a speed that it appears as if he has more than just two arms, while also taking inspiration from depictions of the Hindu god Shiva. Beneath the self portrait, a large white tile towards the bottom of the piece reads "DREAM." To the left of this, individual letters spell out the name of Zagar's wife beneath another, smaller figurative piece in teal.

A highlight of The Clay Studio's home for 35 years in Old City was the beloved 4 story stairwell encased in Zagar mosaics. Take this piece of Isaiah Zagar's mosaic as a reminder of the many wonderful creative memories made in that building.

Artist Statement

My whole life as an artist is a journal; the way I'm feeling every day, the way I'm thinking, the things I'm thinking about. They all enter into my work life, into my drawing life, so it's constantly changing. The immediacy of what you're seeing and feeling is your trip, your journey, your journal. You will see what you want to see.

Artist's Biography

Isaiah Zagar was born in 1939 in Philadelphia and raised in Brooklyn. He received his B.F.A. in Painting & Graphic s at the Pratt Institute of Art in New York City. When he was 19 years old, Zagar discovered the art environment of Clarence Schmidt in Woodstock, New York. This shaped his ideas of what art could be and started a lifelong interest in art environments and their creators. Isaiah's work is included in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Fabric Workshop and Museum, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, and the Brandywine Workshop and Archives. He has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Isaiah participated in residences in China and India and completed mosaic commissions throughout the United States and internationally.

From the collection of Arlene and Bernard Solomon

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