Overview
- Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens said Zagar died Thursday from complications of congestive heart failure and Parkinson’s disease.
- Zagar’s work spans more than 50,000 square feet across Philadelphia, with over 200 additional mosaics in other states as well as Mexico and Chile.
- He fashioned immersive installations from broken bottles, mirrors, tiles and bicycle wheels, forging a distinctive visual language on South Street.
- After serving in the Peace Corps in Peru, he and his wife, Julia, moved to South Philadelphia in 1968 and opened Eye’s Gallery, helping shape the corridor’s cultural identity.
- The nonprofit will announce a public memorial and has asked for donations to its preservation fund as development pressures continue, including demolition at the former Painted Bride site where salvage is underway.