Isaiah Zagar
American mosaic artist
Isaiah Zagar, the visionary American mosaic artist whose vibrant, immersive works transformed the urban landscape of Philadelphia, passed away on February 19, 2026, at his home in South Philadelphia. He was 86 years old. Zagar's death, attributed to complications from congestive heart failure and Parkinson's disease, marks the end of a prolific career that spanned over five decades and left an indelible mark on public art.
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Brooklyn, Zagar's artistic journey began to take shape after an encounter with Clarence Schmidt's folk art environment in 1959, which profoundly influenced his understanding of art's potential. After earning his B.F.A. from the Pratt Institute, he and his wife, Julia, served in the Peace Corps in Peru, where he drew inspiration from Peruvian folk art. This period was foundational to the mixed-media, found-object aesthetic that would become his signature style.
Upon returning to Philadelphia in 1968, Zagar and Julia opened the Eye's Gallery on South Street, a hub for international folk art. It was here that Zagar created his first mosaic, a therapeutic endeavor that blossomed into a lifelong passion. His most celebrated creation, Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, began in 1986 as an ambitious project to mosaic his property and adjacent vacant lots, evolving into a sprawling, labyrinthine environment that draws thousands of visitors annually.
Zagar's dedication to public art resulted in over 200 mosaic murals across Philadelphia and beyond, adorning more than 50,000 square feet of walls and public spaces with his distinctive blend of handmade tiles, mirrors, bottles, and found objects. His work, often infused with personal narratives and poetry, earned him prestigious recognitions, including grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and a Pew Charitable Trust Individual Artist Fellowship. In 2023, following his Parkinson's diagnosis, Isaiah and Julia Zagar generously donated the Magic Gardens Studio to the Philadelphia's Magic Gardens organization, ensuring the preservation of his extraordinary legacy for future generations.