Renowned Philadelphia Mosaic Artist Isaiah Zagar Dies at 86

Zagar was known for his vibrant, mirrored dreamscapes across the city.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Isaiah Zagar, a renowned Philadelphia-based mosaic artist known for creating intricate, mirrored dreamscapes across the city, has died at the age of 86 due to complications from heart failure and Parkinson's disease. Zagar returned to Philadelphia in 1968 after a stint in the Peace Corps and spent decades adorning buildings, walls, and alleyways with his unique mosaics made from broken glass, tile, mirrors, and other found objects.

Why it matters

Zagar's public art was a beloved part of Philadelphia's cultural landscape, especially along the city's funky South Street corridor where he lived and worked. His immersive Magic Gardens installation on South Street has drawn thousands of visitors each year, showcasing his distinctive style and vision. Zagar's passing marks the end of an era for Philadelphia's vibrant public art scene.

The details

Over the years, Zagar created hundreds of public mosaics across Philadelphia, many of them along the South Street corridor where he lived with his wife, Julia. His work, which he described as a way to 'express himself' and 'survive', adorned buildings, walls, and alleyways with an eclectic mix of broken glass, tile, mirrors, and other found objects. Zagar's most famous work, the Philadelphia Magic Gardens on South Street, is an immersive mosaic installation that has drawn thousands of visitors annually.

  • Zagar returned to Philadelphia in 1968 after a stint in the Peace Corps.
  • Zagar worked on a large mosaic on an Old City neighborhood building that was home to The Painted Bride Art Center throughout the 1990s.
  • Demolition on the building that housed Zagar's mosaic began in December 2025, but some of his work is being salvaged.

The players

Isaiah Zagar

A Philadelphia-based mosaic artist known for creating intricate, mirrored dreamscapes across the city using broken glass, tile, mirrors, and other found objects.

Julia Zagar

Isaiah Zagar's wife, whom he called his muse and artistic partner.

Jeremiah Zagar

One of Isaiah Zagar's sons, who directed a 2008 documentary about his father titled 'In A Dream'.

Emily Smith

The executive director of the Philadelphia's Magic Gardens nonprofit, which Isaiah Zagar created.

The Painted Bride Art Center

An Old City neighborhood building that was home to one of Isaiah Zagar's large mosaics, which faced demolition in late 2025.

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What they’re saying

“He loved South Street, the city of Philadelphia, and the community fostered here with all of his heart.”

— Emily Smith, Executive Director, Philadelphia's Magic Gardens (ksgf.com)

“While Isaiah lived with ups and downs of mental health struggles, and later with Parkinson's Disease, he endlessly turned to his art-making to not only express himself, but as a tool to survive.”

— Emily Smith, Executive Director, Philadelphia's Magic Gardens (ksgf.com)

The takeaway

Isaiah Zagar's vibrant, mirrored mosaics were a beloved part of Philadelphia's cultural landscape for decades, showcasing his unique artistic vision and serving as a testament to the power of public art to bring a community together. His passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy will live on through the thousands of visitors who continue to experience his immersive Magic Gardens installation and the many other mosaics he created across the city.