Our Story
Founded in 1968 by Julia Zagar and her late husband, the legendary mosaic artist and creator of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, Isaiah Zagar, Eye’s Gallery is a love letter to global artistry and community.
The journey began in the mid-1910s high in the Andes mountains of Peru. Serving in the Peace Corps as craft developers for the Aymara and Inca communities, Julia and Isaiah fell deeply in love with Latin American folk art. Living in a mountain village 14,000 feet above sea level, they partnered with local artisans to help organize their crafts for foreign markets—teaching sustainable trade practices, quality standards, and scaling.
With a modest monthly Peace Corps stipend, the couple began purchasing handmade items directly from local makers, selling them to fellow volunteers and the few travelers passing through. Every bit of profit was immediately reinvested back into the community to buy more materials for the weavers and creators. What started as a grassroots effort quickly blossomed, eventually supporting 60 local artisans producing breathtaking traditional folk art and knits.
Urban Pioneers
Returning to the United States in 1968, Julia and Isaiah decided to start from scratch. They settled in Philadelphia, moving into a vacant, historic building in a sparsely populated neighborhood then known as Lower South Street. Together, they painstakingly renovated the space to serve as both their home and the original home of Eye’s Gallery.
It was here that Isaiah shifted his creative focus from painting to his signature, breathtaking tile mosaics. Over the decades, his iconic, sprawling public artwork transformed the brick and mortar of South Street—and all of Philadelphia—into a living, breathing canvas.
A New Chapter at 327 South Street
On July 29th, 2022, disaster struck when a devastating fire tore through the business next door. Eye’s Gallery suffered an unimaginable loss; the fire heavily compromised the building and destroyed decades of history, including many of Isaiah’s treasured, original interior mosaics.
But the spirit of Eye’s Gallery couldn't be dimmed. Powered by the resilience of Julia, our team, and an outpouring of love from the Philadelphia community, the shop rose from the ashes. On April 15, 2023, Eye’s Gallery proudly reopened its doors just down the block at 327 South Street.
Today, in our beautifully curated, intimate single-floor shop, we continue to carry forward the vision Julia and Isaiah sparked over 50 years ago. Every square inch is packed with color, life, and the belief that there is no division between art and craft. We invite you to step inside and find a handmade treasure that tells a story!
