Events 

Make and paint a clay tile with artist Nitza Walesca Rosario in this free workshop designed to get your hands dirty with a fun introduction to clay. Mural Arts will fire your unique tile for you to keep or install at the Open Kitchen Sculpture Garden, if you choose.

Saturdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

6/15, 6/29, 7/13, 7/27, 8/10, 8/24, 9/7, 9/21, 10/5

Location: Kensington Storefront, 3208 Kensington Avenue

Open to participants of all ages – families welcome. First-come, first-served each week while supplies last, with priority given to Kensington residents. Please arrive by 10 a.m.; latecomers may not be admitted. The Kensington Storefront is a project of Mural Arts’ Porch Light.

Empowering Through Art 

We Here unfolds over two years and culminates in the installation of three monumental outdoor sculptures by artist Roberto Lugo at sites across Kensington during Summer 2024. Lugo’s unique blend of classical ceramics and urban culture invites the Kensington community to see art as a mirror of their collective creativity, identity and strength.

Announcing our sculpture locations! In partnership with Kensington Corridor Trust, the Free Church of St. John and Taller Puertorriqueño, Lugo’s vessel sculptures are coming soon to outdoor sites at Kensington & Allegheny, Helen & Elkhart and 5th & Huntingdon.

A Story in Every Sculpture 

We Here offers an immersive artistic journey with workshops and public programs throughout the project. During Fall 2023, a series of community workshops in Kensington generated dozens of unique pattern designs, which Lugo incorporated into his sculptures. Each twelve-foot vessel stands as a testament to the neighborhood’s rich cultural tapestry and features a cutout entryway that allows visitors to step inside and see themselves in the artwork.

During 2024, free pottery workshops continue at the Kensington Storefront (more information below) while sculpture tours, a block party and a public forum will invite people to experience We Here throughout the summer and fall.

Inspiring the Next Generation 

As part of We Here, Lugo and acclaimed author Frank Berrios have teamed up to create We Here: What Kind of Artist Will You Be?, a children’s book illustrated by Meghan Galloway-Edgar. Inspired by Lugo’s artistic journey, the book will be distributed for free to Kensington families in Spanish and English editions with the goal of fostering a love of art-making in the neighborhood’s next generation.

Community at Its Core 

At the heart of We Here is a strong community foundation guided by a dedicated Community Advisory Council of Kensington residents. Their involvement and feedback ensures that We Here is rooted in local perspectives and strives for a collaborative and inclusive art experience. We Here showcases the talents of Philadelphia artists Nitza Walesca Rosario and Yinka Orafidiya as leaders of its community clay programs.

About Roberto Lugo 

Born and raised in Kensington, Philadelphia, Roberto Lugo blends classical ceramics with the vibrancy of hiphop culture to address poverty, inequality, and racial injustice. Through his work, Lugo revitalizes traditional European and Asian pottery with urban flair, merging classic aesthetics with modern motifs, including graffiti and portraits of influential figures often excluded from luxury art.

In 2023, Lugo received the esteemed Heinz Award, granting the artist $250,000 in unrestricted funds to support his work. A recipient of prestigious awards including a 2019 Pew Fellowship, Lugo’s artworks can be found in major museum collections, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Roberto Lugo Studios 

Charlie Cunningham, Studio Manager
Julianna Thompson, Artist Assistant
Spencer Dofflemyer, Artist Assistant
Soso Capaldi, Artist Assistant

In the News 

WHYY: ‘Transforming the art form of ceramics’: Philly artist Roberto Lugo wins $250,000 Heinz Award
Philadelphia Metro: ‘We Here’ gets the community involved with its art
Philadelphia Metro: Arts and culture events to check out this summer in Philadelphia
CBS Philadelphia: Meet the Philadelphia artist using immersive sculptures to spark joy, foster community in Kensington
NBC10 Philadelphia: Giant sculptures representing the community are coming to Kensington
Kensington Voice: Kensington native Roberto Lugo to paint three 11-foot sculptures in Kensington this summer
Philadelphia Today: How a Kensington Artist is Bringing Joy and Fostering Community Through Immersive Sculptures