MEDIA ADVISORY

The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History Welcomes Deb Kass Sculpture Back After Refurbishment and Expresses Appreciation to The Morgan Family for Promised Gift

When: October 31, 2025 at 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History (The Weitzman)
101 S Independence Mall E, Philadelphia (5th and Market Streets)

What: The Weitzman will reinstall artist Deborah Kass’s 8-foot tall, 16-foot wide, and 5-foot deep “Lamborghini yellow” OY/YO sculpture on its grounds, at 5th and Market Streets on Independence Mall.

The Weitzman is also announcing that – thanks to a promised gift from philanthropists Mitchell and Hilarie Morgan and family, who currently own the sculpture – OY/YO will remain on display in its current location.

“We’re delighted to share this joyful piece of art with The Weitzman and the Philadelphia community,” The Morgan Family said.

Since May 2022, OY/YO has become part of Old City’s cultural fabric and a destination for tourists and locals alike.

OY/YO has been undergoing refurbishment and repainting at The Johnson Atelier since May while the city repaved the Market Street sidewalk, and is now ready to return. The Philadelphia Inquirer recently shared photos of the refurbishment process.

“Bringing Deborah Kass’s OY/YO back to our corner — proudly facing Independence Mall as we head into the nation’s 250th — celebrates the spirit of a city that’s always spoken in its own voice: bold, irreverent, and full of heart,” said Dan Tadmor, President and CEO, The Weitzman. “We are honored that longtime supporters Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan will be gifting this iconic sculpture to The Weitzman, as a piece of public art in Philadelphia.”

Kass first created OY/YO as a painting in 2011 and, in 2015, turned it into a sculpture that sat in New York’s Brooklyn Bridge Park in 2015.

The bright yellow aluminum statue is creative word play using just two letters, with several meanings. One side says “YO,” referencing the attention-getting phrase used throughout Philly, as well as “I” in Spanish, while the other side reads “OY,” a popular Yiddish phrase used in Jewish and American culture.

At the time of its 2022 installation in Philadelphia, Kass said “I created OY/YO thinking about the American promise of equality and fairness and our responsibilities to make the country a better place for all. With hate and division now on the rise, it is urgent to see our commonalities, what we share, and what brings us together.”

More information here.

Download High-Resolution Photos
OY/YO Images
credit lines enclosed

ABOUT THE WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
Established in 1976, and situated on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History is the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience. The Weitzman presents educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore, and celebrate the history of Jews in America. Its purpose is to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire. For more information, visit: https://theweitzman.org.

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