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This month is your last chance to wave at a stranger on the other side of the world while standing in the middle of Philadelphia. The Portal — the curious art installation that allows Philadelphians to look through a screen and see into another country — is leaving the city.
Philly’s Portal opened in October 2024 after a five-month stint in New York City. The art piece comes from Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys, who set out to connect cities using an 8-foot-tall, 3.5-ton circular screen, where people could interact from opposite sides of the planet 24 hours a day.
“It’s a way to travel without really leaving the city,” West Philly resident Brenda Reabis told Billy Penn at the time. “You know, just connecting as human beings.”
The Portal project got so big, it was even featured on an episode of Elsbeth — sparking the television heroine to solve a murder witnessed through its circular screen!
Given Philly’s history with robots (both of the hitchBOT and Uber delivery variety) it’s amazing our Portal lasted as long as it did. Of course, there were some hiccups along the way.
In March 2025, five months after the art-piece was installed, vandals damaged the installation. Afterward, the Portal swiftly found a new home in the courtyard of City Hall.
Still, five months was pretty good, in retrospect. Back on opening day, locals made guesses to BP on how long it would take before some decided to break it, ranging from “a couple weeks” to “tomorrow.”
After two years in Philly, the Portal will be leaving the city. Portals CEO Nicolas Klaus told PHL17 that the artwork is officially leaving City Hall at the end of October.
Klaus initially hoped to keep the Portal in Philadelphia for a little longer, but unfortunately the city was unable to extend its permit, per the Inquirer. The installation needs a sponsor to cover the $30,000 annual maintenance and connectivity.
If you’re curious to say hello to someone in Lithuania, Poland, Ireland, Brazil, the UK or the Philippines — where the other six Portals currently sit — next week is your last chance. Plan to visit before 6 p.m.; the City Hall courtyard closes between 6 and 6:30 p.m.
