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Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia

ArtClosed todayFree36th Street (SEPTA Subway–Surface Trolley)

Founded in 1963 at the University of Pennsylvania, the Institute of Contemporary Art is a non-collecting museum devoted entirely to work of the present moment. Its record of firsts is remarkable: the ICA mounted the first museum exhibitions of Andy Warhol (1965), Agnes Martin, Laurie Anderson and Robert Indiana, and showed Cy Twombly and Robert Mapplethorpe early. Since 1990 it has occupied a light-filled building at 36th and Sansom designed by Adèle Naudé Santos, staging roughly twelve exhibitions a year across three seasonal rotations. Admission is always free.

What's On

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Plan Your Visit

Getting there

118 S. 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States

Nearest station: 36th Street (SEPTA Subway–Surface Trolley), 30th Street Station (Amtrak / SEPTA Regional Rail), 36th & Walnut Streets (SEPTA Bus 21)

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Hours

Closed until 25 September

Closed for installation

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed11:00–18:00
ThuToday11:00–20:00
Fri11:00–18:00
Sat11:00–18:00
Sun11:00–18:00

Admission

Free

Admission is always free, courtesy of Amanda and Glenn Fuhrman.

Nearby

Penn Museum

Art8 min walk

Mütter Museum

History19 min walk

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Architecture21 min walk

The Franklin Institute

Children22 min walk

Visitor Information

Is Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia free to visit?
Yes, general admission to Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia is free. Admission is always free, courtesy of Amanda and Glenn Fuhrman.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia?
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia is open Wednesday to Sunday 11:00–18:00, Thursday until 20:00. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Closed for installation 10 August – 25 September 2026; reopens 26 September 2026. Admission always free.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia?
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia is located at 118 S. 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States, in the University City area of Philadelphia. The nearest stations are 36th Street (SEPTA Subway–Surface Trolley), 30th Street Station (Amtrak / SEPTA Regional Rail), 36th & Walnut Streets (SEPTA Bus 21).
What can I see at Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia?
Free, non-collecting kunsthalle on Penn's campus that gave Warhol and Agnes Martin their first museum shows. Current highlights include The Condition of Being Near, Wilmer Wilson IV: SKIRL!, Open Video Call 2026.
Do I need to book Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia in advance?
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Admission is always free, courtesy of Amanda and Glenn Fuhrman.. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.
When is the best time to visit Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

ajay_suresh via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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