First Friday presented by Fulton Bank
Join us on the first Friday of each month for exhibition openings, artist studio tours, markets, and stunning views of the Delaware River.
Review the July Schedule:
Opening: Wings and Water: The Space Between by ArtXStitch
This July, experience Wings and Water: The Space Between, a powerful community-driven art installation at Cherry Street Pier. Created by resident artist ArtXStitch, the exhibit explores identity, healing, and freedom through textile storytelling, reimagining what it means to be seen and heard in Philadelphia. This exhibition is part of Where Freedom Flows: A Public Art Series on the Delaware River Waterfront.
Opening: Unbroken Spirits by Joseph Carrillo, Studio 3
This powerful photography exhibition depicts indigenous resilience, inner strength, and enduring lineage and migration through expressive form and material voice.
Opening: The Banner Project: Movements curated by Duwenavue Santé Johnson and Suzanna Urminska
This exhibition takes many forms, such as growth, migration, rhythm, repetition, and connection, all depicted through hand-painted banners made of jewel-toned flag material.
Opening: Teen Dreams of Pattern curated by Anthony Folks with Duwenavue Santé Johnson
Teen Dreams of Pattern is an exhibition featuring hand-screenprinted textile works by high school students from across the Philadelphia region.
Opening: Kept. Worn. Woven. by Allison Frick
Utilizing a strict geometric grid to honor every scrap of fabric, this collection integrates denim pockets and other denim sections meticulously saved over the last decade, celebrating the natural fades, physical wear, and personal histories embedded within the worn material.
Opening: Esoteric America: Founding Design by Hayato Matsushita, 5 pm to 9 pm
Esoteric America: Founding Design by Hayato Matsushita explores the symbolic and philosophical structures underlying the American experiment through imagery drawn from flags, sacred geometry, Tarot, and Revolutionary-era iconography.
Opening: Unbroken Spirits by Joseph Carrillo
This powerful photography exhibition depicts indigenous resilience, inner strength, and enduring lineage and migration through expressive form and material voice.
On View: Eunice Levis’ Colmado del Futuro
Colmado del Futuro is an immersive mixed-reality installation that reimagines a Caribbean corner store through sound, light, and technology, inviting visitors to explore how culture, community, and connection evolve in an increasingly digital world.
Sistah Soul Series, 6 pm to 9 pm
Presented by Shekhinah B. of The Women’s Coalition for Empowerment, this free live music event brings together vocalists, poets, instrumentalists, and DJs for a night of R&B, jazz, soul, and improvisation under the magic of the Pier lights.
Artist and Artisans Market, 4 pm – 9 pm
Support local artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs at the Artist and Artisans Market at Cherry Street Pier. Pick up one-of-a-kind finds at the Pier while you stroll our marketplace and enjoy stunning views of the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Delaware River.
Ticketed: Art Workshop, First Fridays, 7 pm – 9 pm
Join resident artist Amy Kelly (Studio 8) for a fun art workshop, learn a new skill, and then create your very own masterpiece. Contact Amy at 47earrings@gmail.com. The class is held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.—registration is required.
Open Studios
You can also see the Pier’s resident artists at work in their studios and purchase original artwork.
Concessions
Enjoy bites and sips from our local food vendors.
What to Know Before You Go:
Parking on-site will be limited due to construction on the I-95 CAP. However, there are many great ways to access the Waterfront, including walking and biking along the Delaware River Trail, rideshare, and public transit. To ensure a seamless visit, guests can visit the Know Before You Go guide for parking recommendations, directions, FAQs, and more.
