For many Philadelphians, the Painted Bride mosaic that covers an entire building on Vine St. has become a piece of the city’s identity, embedded with images and memories of the local art community. But as of October 2023, it’s being taken apart, and the building will soon be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use building. The artist, Isaiah Zagar, is now 84 years old, and he spent nine years making this mural. Sabrina Boyd-Surka and KYW’s Shara Dae Howard dig into the history of this mural, what it has meant to Philadelphia, why it couldn’t be saved, and whether or not public art is really meant to last forever.

Photo by Sarah Bloom.

Read more about the mural from Shara Dae Howard here.

Check out pictures of the mosaic here, and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) for more: @TheJawncast.