For decades, the Philadelphia Museum of Art kept an uneasy distance from the bronze statue of Rocky Balboa that drew millions to its steps. Now, the museum is finally embracing the fictional boxer, inviting the statue inside for a landmark exhibition.
Opening this weekend, 'Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments' explores how a Hollywood underdog became a real-world icon, placing the statue within the context of art history and Philadelphia's identity. The show, curated by Paul Farber, spans 2,000 years of boxing imagery to highlight themes of struggle and endurance.
The museum's deputy director, Louis Marchesano, acknowledged the institution's rocky history with the statue, which was originally moved from the steps after filming. 'It took us decades to come to terms with it, but I’m glad that we did,' he said.
The exhibition also examines the global boxing fever of the 1970s, featuring works by Warhol, Basquiat, and Haring, and pays tribute to Joe Frazier, whose real-life story partially inspired the character. When the exhibition closes in August, the statue will move to a permanent home atop the museum's steps, while a statue of Frazier will take its place at the bottom.
Each year, about 4 million visitors flock to the steps—rivaling the Liberty Bell—drawn by the legacy of a fictional boxer who continues to inspire new generations.
