Orianna Hill Dog Park Mural to debut on August 15th

Orianna Hill Dog Park Mural Unveiling at Kaplan’s Bakery

Mark your calendar for Friday, August 15 at 5:00 p.m., when the Orianna Hill Dog Park mural is unveiled on the historic Kaplan’s Bakery building in Northern Liberties. The celebration continues just steps away with a Yappy Hour at Orianna Hill Dog Park from 5:00–7:00 p.m., featuring light refreshments, a meet-the-artist moment, and neighborly mingling—all while raising funds for the beloved community park.

The mural, aptly titled “Can I Paint That Dog?”, is the latest collaboration between the Northern Liberties Business Improvement District and Philadelphia artist Emily White. White culled more than 340 photo submissions from local dog lovers, then composed a joyous, street-scale portrait of the neighborhood’s four-legged regulars. Locals are encouraged to come early, claim a good vantage point, and see if their pup made the final cut.

Dropping right in the heart of National Dog Month, the Orianna Hill Dog Park mural pairs perfectly with that end-of-summer, dogs-on-patios energy—part public art moment, part neighborhood block party, and entirely Philadelphia.

Orianna Hill Dog Park Mural: Why it matters—and what it says

Public art in Philly thrives when it’s rooted in place, and the Orianna Hill Dog Park mural is exactly that: a love letter to a community built on sidewalk hellos, shared green space, and the everyday ritual of walking the dog. Emily White’s composition leans into Northern Liberties’ character—bright, contemporary color fields balanced with expressive detail—so the faces that anchor the piece feel both stylish and unmistakably local.

By installing the work on Kaplan’s Bakery, a site with its own neighborhood history, the project bridges past and present, signaling that the creative pulse of NoLibs isn’t confined to galleries; it lives on brick, beneath string lights, beside water bowls.

The unveiling’s Yappy Hour at Orianna Hill emphasizes the mural’s purpose beyond aesthetics. Meeting the artist turns viewers into stakeholders; fundraising keeps the park vibrant and safe; and the event schedule—5:00 p.m. reveal followed by a 5:00–7:00 p.m. social—invites families and after-work crowds alike. Most of all, “Can I Paint That Dog?” elevates an everyday subject (our pets) into a civic emblem. In a neighborhood known for design-forward eateries and indie retail, the Orianna Hill Dog Park mural adds a new landmark—one that maps the bonds between people, place, and the pups that pull us outside.

About Post Author

Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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