Entry No. 17 — the Philadelphia file — filed under: artist-built environment
PhilaMOCA (Philadelphia Mausoleum of Contemporary Art)
A former mausoleum-and-tombstone showroom (the historic Finney & Son monument building, dating to the 1850s) that Diplo established as PhilaMOCA in 2008 — now a BYOB gallery and screening room staging psychotronic film nights, music, comedy, and performance art in a space built to display headstones.
The story
Long before underground film projectionists and touring bands set up in Callowhill, people walked into 531 N 12th Street to pick out final resting places for the dead. Built in the 1850s as the Finney & Son monument building, the space functioned for generations as a showroom for granite headstones and mausoleums. In 2008, DJ and producer Diplo established the site as PhilaMOCA—the Philadelphia Mausoleum of Contemporary Art—repurposing a hall built for funeral monuments into a multi-use arts sanctuary.
Rather than stripping the space into a generic venue, PhilaMOCA left the bones intact. The ceiling rises above the main floor where tombstone displays once stood, and the stone-carver's architectural alcoves along the walls now host monthly gallery shows, psychotronic film screenings, live alternative music, and experimental performance art. It remains one of Callowhill's firmest holds on Philadelphia's DIY art scene.
What it's like
Expect to sit on a metal folding chair right up against the performers or screening screen under high historic ceilings. The room is intimate and BYOB, so bring your own drinks and arrive early to inspect the lobby alcoves where monument samples used to rest. Because events run on a tight performance calendar rather than standard bar hours, you should always check their event listings and confirm current show times before showing up.
The move: Catch a weird double-feature or gallery opening on folding chairs under the original mausoleum-showroom ceiling, then linger in the lobby where the old monument alcoves are now hung with local art.
- 📍 Callowhill
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 531 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Hop Sing Laundromat — Follow an offbeat film screening with a strictly regulated craft cocktail behind a unmarked door half a mile away in Chinatown.
- Herbiary — Browse bulk herbs and natural concoctions inside Reading Terminal Market before heading north for an evening underground show.
- Formation Sauna + Wellness — Balance a night sitting on folding chairs at a venue built for headstones with a high-heat Nordic sauna session in Northern Liberties.
Good to know
What was PhilaMOCA before it became an art venue?
It was the Finney & Son monument building, established in the 1850s as a showroom for mausoleums and headstones.
Is PhilaMOCA BYOB?
Yes, PhilaMOCA operates as a BYOB space for its screenings, music shows, and gallery events.
What types of events take place at PhilaMOCA?
The venue hosts psychotronic cinema nights, independent film screenings, live music, comedy shows, and visual art exhibitions.
Where is PhilaMOCA located?
It is located at 531 N 12th Street in Philadelphia's Callowhill neighborhood.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · visitphilly.com · stayhappening.com
last checked: 2026-07-19