Public Mural Stewardship

Project Lead

Meg Saligman Studios

Public murals are among the most democratic forms of art, shaping place, memory, and civic identity, yet their outdoor accessibility poses unique challenges for art preservation. This initiative began with the conservation and restoration of Meg Saligman's collection of large-scale public murals. In partnership with conservators at Winterthur Museum, the studio developed methodology for the treatment of exterior painted surfaces. Every mural was assessed, documented, stabilized, and restored with museum-grade care. The resulting protocols established a framework of best practices for exterior mural conservation, subsequently adopted by Philadelphia Mural Arts as standards for its collection of more than 4,000 works. The project extends the life of the city's public art while preserving the integrity of each artist's original intent.