Pennsylvania Murals- Meg Saligman’s “Our Flag Unfurled” in Philadelphia

 Art, Artists, Painting / Painters, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Public Art, Street Art
Jul 032026
 

Artist Meg Saligman created this mural, Our Flag Unfurled, in 2001, for Mural Arts Philadelphia.

From the Mural Arts website:

In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, artist Meg Saligman volunteered to paint this now iconic mural, Our Flag Unfurled on the massive south facing wall of Philadelphia Warehousing and Cold Storage building. The design was intended to appear slightly sad, as if unfurling down the side of the building.

Painted just north of center city, between I-95 and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the size and location of the mural make it a gateway to the city for thousands of daily commuters.

Originally intended as a temporary display of resilience, the 6,000 square foot image of the flag has remained one of Mural Arts’ most visible and iconic works since the fall of 2001. Although Sherwin Williams donated their highest quality paint for the original project, 15 years is a long time for any work of public art. In 2016, the mural received a refresh in time for the Wawa Welcome America July 4th ceremonies, and the Democratic National Convention later that month.

Philadelphia Murals- Meg Saligman’s “Philadelphia Muses”

 Art, Artists, Painting / Painters, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Public Art, Street Art
May 052026
 

Artist Meg Saligman has created several murals for the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program including Philadelphia Muses, pictured above, which was painted in 1999.

From the Mural Arts website about this mural-

Intended as a contemporary interpretation of the classical muses, Saligman has created an arts landscape filled with figures and elements symbolizing today’s art and creativity.

In the center of the composition is an arts machine spinning out spheres, symbols of the perfect art form. Each of the nine muses in the composition is associated with a sphere, and there are circular references throughout the composition, such as the compass.

Through portraits of local performing artists and references to works of art by local artists, Saligman honors the following forms of creative expression.

The entire mural was created by the artist in her studio using large squares of a polyester fabric called non-woven media (or parachute cloth). These were then adhered to the wall with an acrylic gel, much like a giant decoupage. Saligman’s style is very painterly yet also very realistic and makes frequent allusions to classical themes and figures like the muses in this composition.