Packed floor to ceiling with art

Immediately upon entering the building, the density of artwork is formidable and unrestrained. Even before reaching the ticketing desk, the paintings are already covering nearly every square foot of wall space. That salon-style density continues throughout the building in a nod to Smith, who opened his collection to guests in 1913 with artwork displayed in a similar fashion.

“This is a Victorian house. The art that was here would have been hung from floor to ceiling,” Valerio said. “What we wanted to create was the experience of a historic house of that time and the way art would have been shown.”

In a new book about the history of the Woodmere Museum, author Hilary Jay describes Smith’s personal taste in art as “exuberantly eclectic,” which applies equally to the Woodmere’s new galleries.

Anachronistic to the Victorian setting but true to Woodmere’s mission, many of the Art Deco chandeliers and lighting sconces were salvaged from the iconic Boyd movie palace in Center City, which was demolished in 2015.

“Just as we were getting started on this building, the Friends of the Boyd were looking for homes for the amazing fixtures that they were able to salvage from the Boyd Theatre,” Valerio said. “It’s an absolutely spectacular, glittering Art Deco chandelier that fills the space with light and sparkle and also connects to one of the great cultural anchors of the city that’s unfortunately no longer with us.”