Isaiah Zagar, an American mosaic artist based in Philadelphia, died on February 19, 2026, at age 86.
He completed more than 200 murals, mainly in mixed media and primarily in or around Philadelphia’s South Street. Born in Philadelphia on March 18, 1939, Zagar earned a Bachelor of Arts from the Pratt Institute.
After marrying Julia, he and his wife volunteered for the Peace Corps and were sent to Peru, where he became inspired by Peruvian folk art. In 1968, the couple moved to South Philadelphia, where Zagar went on to create Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, his largest South Street mosaic work.
Isaiah Zagar (March 18, 1939 – February 19, 2026) was an American mosaic artist based in Philadelphia. He completed more than 200 murals, mainly of mixed media and primarily in or around Philadelphia’s South Street.