Mosaic Magic

Mosaic Magic by Snoeman is a tribute to the beautiful City of Philadelphia. It is meant to pay homage to the neighborhood, to legendary local and international artists, and to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The intricate patterns throughout the mural are inspired by the mosaics of Isaiah Zagar. The blue character holding the South 8th Street arrow is a reference to the classic work of Stephen “Espo” Powers – Stay on Point. The whole mural is meant to portray a magical Philadelphia skyline featuring the Art Museum, Liberty Place, Swan Fountain, City Hall, the Love Sculpture, and the Liberty Bell. The Schuylkill River flows across the bottom and meets in the middle with a Keith Haring-inspired heart looking out over it all. Mosaic style gardens, messages, and other treasures are mixed into the mural as they are throughout the actual city.

Snoeman is known for working with local small business owners on murals that celebrate their block, neighborhood, or city by painted brightly-colored and joyful imagery that references local landmarks or individuals. This mural was his first time undertaking such a project outside of his native New York City. Broadway Laundromat at 8th and Moyamensing was chosen because it is a locally-owned small business that serves as a community hub (deli, laundromat, coffee shop, etc.). The imagery incorporated into the mural was chosen with input from the business owner.

Snoeman painted the mural, without additional assistants, over the course of 1 week in June 2023. The mural is painted directly onto the wall with a combination of spray paint and acrylic paint sticks. The predominant colors are blue, orange, and green. At the top edge of the mural is a trompe l’oeil effect, with painted bricks blending in with the actual bricks of the building that start above the mural.