South Street District

Banner Artist Spotlight: Ashley Hewlett

Ashley Hewlett is a Philly-based artist originally from Oxford, Mississippi. Ashley has been creating art since childhood, but focused on getting her Master’s in Social Work. After graduating during the pandemic, she found inspiration through digital art. Her work explores emotional struggles, daily life, vibrant colors, and textile patterns.

When asked about the inspiration behind her banner design, Ashley said, “For this banner, I wanted to highlight the vibrant fabrics and cozy magical atmosphere of the stores on Fabric Row. After exploring the area’s fabric and notion shops, I was particularly inspired by the narrow aisles packed with colorful textiles and the trims that spanned the area overhead.”

The South Street Banner Art Project is a public art initiative led by the South Street Headhouse District that transforms the corridor into a more vibrant, welcoming, and visually engaging destination.

Featuring original artwork by local Philadelphia artists, these banners amplify the incredible talent of the city’s creative community while also enhancing the streetscape and honoring South Street’s longstanding history as a place for artists, creatives, and countercultures.

This beautification project aims to foster a stronger sense of place, strengthen community pride, and create a more memorable experience for residents and visitors alike.

We are currently spotlightling each featured artist and the story behind their design.
(12/20)

Banner Artist Spotlight: Brian Langan

Brian Langan, born and raised in Scranton, PA, is a renowned Artist/Musician who relocated to the city of Philadelphia in 2011 and has since made it his home. Working mainly with, but not limited to, bands, event promoters and venues, Brian has become known for his work adorning posters, albums, merchandise, and logo art. He’s created numerous designs ranging extensively from murals to hot sauce labels with most of his inspiration being drawn from 1960’s psychedelia, video games, fantasy films, and Cooper sharp cheese.

When asked about the inspiration behind his banner design, Brian said, “As a teenager growing up in Scranton, it was always exciting for me to visit Philly. Exploring South Street was always the highlight for me. I remember thinking how eclectic it was and how special it felt. It was never just a shopping trip or a visit to a place with different buildings than my hometown, but like a cool quest with people, places, and items I’d never seen before.”

The South Street Banner Art Project is a public art initiative led by the South Street Headhouse District that transforms the corridor into a more vibrant, welcoming, and visually engaging destination.

Featuring original artwork by local Philadelphia artists, these banners amplify the incredible talent of the city’s creative community while also enhancing the streetscape and honoring South Street’s longstanding history as a place for artists, creatives, and countercultures.

This beautification project aims to foster a stronger sense of place, strengthen community pride, and create a more memorable experience for residents and visitors alike.

We are currently spotlighting each featured artist and the story behind their design.
(11/20)

Festival season isn’t over quite yet!! Join us for South Street Fall Fest 2026 🍁✨🍂

Spanning eight blocks of South Street, Fall Fest is a community-rooted experience featuring a unique theme on each block, brought to life by District businesses. The festival offers live music, food and drink specials, immersive art, local craft vendors, and cultural experiences that celebrate what makes this commercial corridor so vibrant!

Block Activations:

⚔️ 100 Block – Queen & Rook’s Renn Faire

🎃 Headhouse Plaza – Kid’s Pumpkin Playground (Activities, Bounce House, Mini Golf, Pumpkin Patch, Face Painting, & More!)

🌭 200 Block – Foodie Alley (Food Trucks, Speciality Drinks, & More!)

🛍️ 300 Block – Artisanal Goods, Shopping, & More

🎤 400 Block – Milkboy’s Anniversary Stage

🎶 Passyunk Ave – Record Riot’s Vinyl Block Party with Repo Records

🎈 700 Block of S 5th Street – Philly Aids Thrift’s 21st Anniversary Block Party

🛹 500 Block – Nocturnal’s Skate Park

👻 600 Block – DreamEerie’s Macabre Masquerade

🍺 700 Block – Brauhaus Schmitz’s Oktoberfest

Details:
• Saturday, September 26
• 12-7PM
• South Street between Front Street and 8th Street

More details about participating businesses, food trucks, and craft vendors to be announced soon!

Thank you to our sponsors Visit Philly & Brewtay Coffee | Specialty Grade Coffee

Poster by jaymcquirns

Community Art Closet - Philadelphia's Magic Gardens The art closet is stocked with a range of supplies for all skills and age ranges, including art...

Banner Artist Spotlight: Manuela Guillén

Manuela Guillén is a Philadelphia-based artist whose work blends her Cuban and Salvadorian heritage through painting, murals, and digital illustration. Inspired by tropical colors, plants, and community, her art explores culture, social issues, and environmental themes. Through public art and teaching, she aims to inspire creativity and bring people together.

When asked about the inspiration behind her banner design, Manuela said, “South Street has long been a gathering place for outsiders, artists, immigrants, and independent thinkers. Inspired by my teenage memories of discovering music, art, and alternative culture along South Street, this piece celebrates the communities who built and continue to shape the street and the lasting impression they leave on those who pass through it. Through imagery of music, street art, small businesses, and cultural exchange, the artwork honors the diversity and experimentation that define this historic corridor.”

The South Street Banner Art Project is a public art initiative led by the South Street Headhouse District that transforms the corridor into a more vibrant, welcoming, and visually engaging destination.

Featuring original artwork by local Philadelphia artists, these banners amplify the incredible talent of the city’s creative community while also enhancing the streetscape and honoring South Street’s longstanding history as a place for artists, creatives, and countercultures.

This beautification project aims to foster a stronger sense of place, strengthen community pride, and create a more memorable experience for residents and visitors alike.

In the coming weeks, we’ll spotlight each featured artist and the story behind their design.
(10/20)

Fourth Friday is today!! 🙌✨🍷🛍️

62 Fun Things to Do in Philly This Week Philadelphia Cycling Classic, Graduate Hospital Restaurant Week, Wildest Art Festival and more, August 24 to 30, 2026 ...

Banner Artist Spotlight: Marian Bailey

Marian Bailey is a self-taught visual artist whose work explores themes of memory, history, and identity through the use of digital and physical media. Bailey’s works are often characterized by her use of bold colors and dynamic color blocking.

When asked about the inspiration behind her banner design, Marian said, “South Street is a place where q***r folks gather and immerse themselves in the culture. I wanted to showcase that by putting a drag queen at the center of the image. While on South Street, I also enjoy taking in all of the amazing fashion that people adorn themselves in, so I wanted to highlight that along with some of my favorite South Street businesses.”

The South Street Banner Art Project is a public art initiative led by the South Street Headhouse District that transforms the corridor into a more vibrant, welcoming, and visually engaging destination.

Featuring original artwork by local Philadelphia artists, these banners amplify the incredible talent of the city’s creative community while also enhancing the streetscape and honoring South Street’s longstanding history as a place for artists, creatives, and countercultures.

This beautification project aims to foster a stronger sense of place, strengthen community pride, and create a more memorable experience for residents and visitors alike.

In the coming weeks, we’ll spotlight each featured artist and the story behind their design.
(9/20)

Banner Artist Spotlight: Ash Ryan

Ash Ryan is a Philly street artist and muralist who specializes in creating realistic works characterized by saturated colors, seamless blends, and vivid imagery. Her portfolio ranges from portraits and hands to depictions of flora and fauna.

When asked about the inspiration behind her banner design, Ash said, “South Street is responsible for my introduction to punk ideology, so I wanted to honor the area’s history with counterculture, punk, and q***r culture. The figure’s jacket is adorned with patches and pins from the alternative stores and collectives that continue to nurture the alternative culture, q***r community, as well as the creatives of Philly.”

The South Street Banner Art Project is a public art initiative led by the South Street Headhouse District that transforms the corridor into a more vibrant, welcoming, and visually engaging destination.

Featuring original artwork by local Philadelphia artists, these banners amplify the incredible talent of the city’s creative community while also enhancing the streetscape and honoring South Street’s longstanding history as a place for artists, creatives, and countercultures.

This beautification project aims to foster a stronger sense of place, strengthen community pride, and create a more memorable experience for residents and visitors alike.

In the coming weeks, we’ll spotlight each featured artist and the story behind their design.
(8/20)