The Plastic Club

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The Plastic Club The Plastic Club is the third oldest art club in the United States. Located in Center City, Philly. Members include well-known Philadelphia artists.

Since 1897, The Plastic Club has been devoted to the promotion and preservation of the visual (plastic) arts in Philadelphia. The busy gallery schedule offers regular salon exhibitions for members and non-members, as well as special solo and group exhibitions by invitation. The name "Plastic Club," suggested by Blanche Dillaye, referred to any work of art unfinished, or in a "plastic" state. The term also refers to the changing and tactile sense of painting and sculpture. Among the founding members of The Plastic Club were the "Red Rose Girls" -- Violet Oakley, Jessie Willcox Smith, and Elizabeth Shippen Green -- outstanding artists of their time. The name was given to this group of talented women by their teacher Howard Pyle. Although initially formed as a women's group, The Plastic Club has always hosted exhibitions and lectures by prominent men and women artists. Membership was expanded to include men in 1991. The Club's home is a historic double townhouse located on one of Philadelphia's "little streets" in the heart of the city. Built in 1824, it housed the club's spacious studio, gallery spaces, offices and dining facilities. The club purchased the property in 1909, and expanded it to include the house next door in 1910. In the past ten years the building has undergone many renovations so that it now functions like a 21st century building, but still retains its 19th century charm. We are happy to have the venerable Philadelphia Sketch Club as our neighbor to the north on Camac Street. At one time there were several other clubs here, including the Cushman Club, now in private hands, which earned the alley the nickname "Little Street of Clubs". On October 21 2001, the historical value of our tiny street was formally recognized by the City of Philadelphia with the designation "Avenue of the Artists".

10/15/2026
Join us on SATURDAY, 10/17 at 6:30 PM, for Le Plastic Club Cinémathèque! As always, FREE and open to the public! 📽🎞🍿We'l...
10/12/2026

Join us on SATURDAY, 10/17 at 6:30 PM, for Le Plastic Club Cinémathèque! As always, FREE and open to the public! 📽🎞🍿

We'll be watching:

* Pearl (animation by Patrick Osborne, 2017, 6 min) - This innovative short about a musician and his daughter as seen from the passenger seat in their car won an Emmy in 2017.

* Next Stop, Greenwich Village (w/dir Paul Mazursky, 1976, color, 111 min) - Mazursky's semi-autobiographical account of a young actor and his girlfriend, their actor/poet/artist friends - and his Mother - in 1950s Greenwich Village. A love letter to a place and time, with a flavorful period jazz score. With Lenny Baker, Ellen Greene, Shelley Winters, Christopher Walken, and a great ensemble cast of other young actors just making their mark.

* The Circus (w/dir Charlie Chaplin, 1928, 70 min, BW, silent with Chaplin score) - The Little Tramp tries his hand at the circus and finds love, mayhem, and hilarity. With a classic Chaplin final scene.

To stay in the know, sign up for our monthly Movie Night newsletter: https://www.plasticclub.org/movie-night

10/04/2026
Special thanks to all who attended the Opening Reception for TRANSITIONS, the September 2026 show! prize juried by Kasse...
09/14/2026

Special thanks to all who attended the Opening Reception for TRANSITIONS, the September 2026 show! prize juried by Kassem Amoudi.

The award winners:
* First Prize - "Sacred Spaces: What the Gold Holds" by Sonya Smith
* Second Prize - "Tweens Soon Teens" by Karen Benson
* Third Prize - "Self Portrait: Rock, Flesh, and AI" by Diana Riukas

Honorable Mentions:
* "Recline with Texture" by Fang Norwood
* "There is a Crack in Everything" by Caroll Drazen
* "The Rite of Tonsure" by Juliette Watts

See the online gallery: https://www.plasticclub.org/events/transitions

On view at the Club through Thursday, 9/24.

We have 3 amazing shows coming your way! ✨On Sunday, 9/13, all are invited from 2-5 PM to attend the Opening Reception f...
09/10/2026

We have 3 amazing shows coming your way! ✨

On Sunday, 9/13, all are invited from 2-5 PM to attend the Opening Reception for TRANSITIONS, the September 2026 show!

We're also pleased to host THE COMPREHENSIVIST, a solo exhibition by artist member Jeannie Moberly in the Bob Jackson Gallery!

And don't forget to see DARE TO BE DADA, a collage exhibition curated by Selene Nuñez-Cruz (Telenitart), in the vitrine!

All shows are on view in our galleries through September 24th.

Learn more and take a sneak peek of several works online: https://www.plasticclub.org/current-exhibitions

Event cover image: "Moonlit Oenothera", mixed media, by Valerie Pantalone

Address

247 S Camac Street
Philadelphia, PA
19107

Telephone

+12155459324

Website

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