{"id":27140,"date":"2026-02-19T13:57:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T18:57:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/?p=27140"},"modified":"2026-02-19T14:18:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T19:18:51","slug":"isaiah-zagar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/2026\/02\/19\/isaiah-zagar\/","title":{"rendered":"Goodbye to Isaiah Zagar, Creator Of Philadelphia&#8217;s Magic Gardens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Saddened to hear that Isaiah Zagar\u2014creator of Philadelphia&#8217;s Magic Gardens, one of the great visionary art spaces of the world, as well as the creator of many mosaic murals across that city\u2014died today at age 86. Zagar was a dynamo, a relentless creator, and an eccentric (see the 2008 documentary \u201cIn a Dream\u201d below about him by his son Jeremiah). Magic Gardens features mosaic corridors and plazas that bring you up and down through the lot between two buildings like a wondrous maze. I\u2019ve been fortunate to photograph a number of Zagar&#8217;s artworks, and tried to meet him, but he was too ill.<\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"vimeo-player\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/305989589?h=e3dc291b46\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.phillymagicgardens.org\/statement-regarding-isaiah-zagars-passing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Emily Smith, executive director of Magic Gardens, writes<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400\">\u201cIsaiah Zagar (March 18, 1939 \u2013 February 19, 2026). Today, we are heartbroken to announce the death of our founding artist, Isaiah Zagar. He died from complications of heart failure and Parkinson\u2019s Disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400\">\u201cIsaiah was born in Philadelphia and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He married his wife Julia in 1963, spent three years in the Peace Corps in Peru with her, and returned to live permanently in Philadelphia in 1968. That year, they moved to South Street and never left. He loved South Street, the city of Philadelphia, and the community fostered here with all of his heart. While Isaiah lived with ups and downs of mental health struggles, and later with Parkinson\u2019s Disease, he endlessly turned to his art-making to not only express himself, but as a tool to survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400\">\u201cIn his 86 years, Isaiah became one of the most renowned mosaicists on earth, working from sunrise to sunset each day; creating hundreds of public mosaics, dozens of buildings and facades, and thousands of drawings, paintings, prints, and photographs. One of Isaiah&#8217;s greatest joys was collaborating with other artists, specifically with folk artists and other art environment creators around the world. His other great joy was being with friends and family, particularly his two sons, Zeke and Jeremiah, and his wife, muse, and partner in visionary thinking, Julia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400\">\u201cIsaiah was more than our founder; he was our close friend, teacher, collaborator, and creative inspiration. He was unlike anyone we have ever met and will ever meet. Above all things, he was an artist. In his lifetime, he created a body of work that is unique and remarkable, and one that has left an everlasting mark on our city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400\">\u201cHe always told us that the staff and visitors were the beating heart of his artworks, and with us it will beat on. We love you, Isaiah. We will miss you so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400\">&#8212;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400\">\u201cWe ask for understanding and privacy during this period of grief for the staff and family. A public memorial will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers the Zagar family requests donations to the PMG Preservation Fund.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If this is the kind of coverage of arts, cultures and activisms you appreciate, please support Wonderland by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/wonderlandlandfanclub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">contributing to Wonderland on Patreon<\/a>. And&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/subscribe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sign up for our free, occasional newsletter<\/a>&nbsp;so that you don&#8217;t miss any of our reporting. (All content \u00a9 Greg Cook 2026 or the respective creato<\/em>rs.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0695w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0695w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0695w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0695w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0100w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0100w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0100w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0100w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0092w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0092w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0092w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0092w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"1755\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0084w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0084w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0084w-780x1170.jpg 780w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0084w-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0084w-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0084w-370x555.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"1755\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0093w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27165\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0093w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0093w-780x1170.jpg 780w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0093w-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0093w-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0093w-370x555.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"1755\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0490w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0490w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0490w-780x1170.jpg 780w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0490w-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0490w-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0490w-370x555.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"1755\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0202w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0202w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0202w-780x1170.jpg 780w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0202w-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0202w-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0202w-370x555.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0406w-2560x1707.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0406w-2560x1707.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0406w-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0406w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0406w-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0406w-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0406w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0343w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0343w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0343w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0343w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0113w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0113w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0113w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0113w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0260w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0260w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0260w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0260w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0225w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0225w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0225w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0225w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0129w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0129w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0129w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0129w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0163w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0163w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0163w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0163w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0198w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0198w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0198w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0198w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0232w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0232w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0232w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0232w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0079w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0079w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0079w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0079w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0704w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar's &quot;Magic Gardens&quot; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0704w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0704w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Magic-Gardens-Philadelphia190417_0704w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar&#8217;s &#8220;Magic Gardens&#8221; in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0724w-2560x1707.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar mural mosaic in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0724w-2560x1707.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0724w-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0724w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0724w-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0724w-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0724w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar mural mosaic in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0493w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar mural mosaic in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0493w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0493w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0493w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar mural mosaic in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-EyeGallery-Philadelphia190417__0771w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar mural mosaic across his wife Julia's Eye Gallery in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-EyeGallery-Philadelphia190417__0771w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-EyeGallery-Philadelphia190417__0771w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-EyeGallery-Philadelphia190417__0771w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar mural mosaic across his wife Julia&#8217;s Eye Gallery in Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0756w.jpg\" alt=\"Isaiah Zagar mural mosaic on Alder Street, Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)\" class=\"wp-image-27169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0756w.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0756w-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/picIsaiah-Zagar-Mosaic-Philadelphia190417__0756w-370x247.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isaiah Zagar mural mosaic on Alder Street, Philadelphia, April 2019. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saddened to hear that Isaiah Zagar\u2014creator of Philadelphia&#8217;s Magic Gardens, one of the great visionary art spaces of the world, as well as the creator of many mosaic murals across that city\u2014died today at age 86. Zagar was a dynamo, a relentless creator, and an eccentric (see the 2008 documentary \u201cIn a Dream\u201d below about [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27145,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100,105,1008,582],"tags":[1132,1133,1352],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27140"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27140"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27178,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27140\/revisions\/27178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}