Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board's Art Montco Walls

To put the spotlight on local artists and continue to raise awareness about Montgomery County, PA, as an arts destination, the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) launched its first-ever Arts Montco Wall at the King of Prussia Mall with seven original, larger-than-life works from artists all across the county in the fall of 2021.

Since then, the VFTCB has not only updated the Mall’s art wall with two more iterations – celebrating BIPOC and LGBTQ artists (and more on the way) – but also expanded the art installations to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets and the brand-new Charles L. Blockson: an African and Afro-American Collection Black History Exhibition at Centre Theater in Norristown with the help of local galleries and more than 30 all over the area.

“We are thrilled to partner with the King of Prussia Mall – the country’s leading shopping destination, the Philadelphia Premium Outlets – the region’s top outlet experience, and the historic Centre Theater to celebrate the incredible and diverse artists in and around the Montgomery County region,” said Rachel Riley, the VFTCB’s Associate Vice President of Communications. “These installations are important elements of our countywide Arts Montco brand, a wonderful way to provide exposure for the variety of incredible artists we have here with the high foot traffic at the mall, outlets, and Norristown, and allowing consumers to discover and experience public works of art.”

Featured in KOP Mall; Katherine Bampfield, Andromeda Cook, Lynnette Shelley, Pandemic Design Studio

Located at Connector corridor across from Macy’s Sandy Alves (Collegeville, PA), Anthe (Flourtown, PA), Katherine Bampfield (East Norriton, PA), Harry Boardman (Souderton, PA), Pandemic Design Studio (Bridgeport, PA), Robby Schlesinger (Elkins Park, PA), Lynnette Shelley (Norristown, PA).

James Atkins (Moody Jones Gallery, Glenside), Ruth Bridges (Moody Jones Gallery, Glenside), Shelby Brisbane (Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell), Abigail Coachi (Ursinus College, Collegeville), Andromeda J. Cook (Moody Jones Gallery, Glenside), Brian Hearns (Montgomery County Studio Tour), Lassalle Jackson (Moody Jones Gallery, Glenside), Taylor Morris (Moody Jones Gallery, Glenside), Jailene Rodriguez (Ursinus College, Collegeville), Mydera Taliah (Haya Ground Studio Art Gallery, Norristown), Eric Nigel Taulton (Haya Ground Studio Art Gallery, Norristown), Dane Tilghman (Moody Jones Gallery, Glenside), Mekha Varghese (Ursinus College, Collegeville), Yolanda Ward (Moody Jones Gallery, Glenside), and R. L. Washington (Moody Jones Gallery, Glenside).

Aaron Feltman (he/him), Kayla Cayemitte (she/her), Joe “Mac” McFetridge (he/him), Anthony Casasanto (he/him), Meg Wolensky (she/they), and Chelsey Luster (she/they).

Located near Columbia Factory Store, Aeropostale, Francesca’s Collections, and Polo Ralph Lauren Kathy Bohn, Robyn Burckhardt, Suzan Dise, Mildred Sands Kratz, Lisa Muller, Trina Poage, and Madisyn Williams.

Jessica Jackson, Trina Poage, James E. Blockson, Abigail Coachi, Rodney Lee Jones Jr., Jerel Ferguson, Brian Hearns, and Judge Peter F. Rogers.

All of the walls and arts graphics are part of the Tourism and Convention Board’s ongoing Arts Montco initiative, which highlights the county’s over 200 arts and entertainment venues, attractions, and galleries. The arts and culture sector represents $100 million in positive economic impact for Montgomery County, not to mention hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs. The Mall & Outlet installations are free and open to the public. The Blockson art wall can be viewed along with paid admission to the exhibit.

For more information on Arts Montco, visit artsmontco.com.