PHILADELPHIA — Every day, people from all over the world visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art, not just to see the galleries, but to stand in front of the iconic statue of Rocky Balboa. This bronze figure, with its arms raised in triumph, has become a popular landmark.
For years, the museum was unsure how to handle this kind of fandom. But now, it’s changing course. This weekend, the museum will open a new exhibition called “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments.” The show will explore how this fictional boxer symbolizes real-life struggles and place Rocky within the context of art history and Philadelphia’s culture.
Guest curator Paul Farber, who has studied the statue’s significance through various media, leads the exhibition. He believes Rocky taps into a deep human theme of struggle. As Louis Marchesano, the museum’s deputy director, explains, this thread has been present in boxing imagery for over 2,000 years. He notes, “People respond to the body under struggle much like they did thousands of years ago. It’s about endurance and internal fortitude.”
Interestingly, the statue wasn’t always embraced. After filming the “Rocky” movies, it was initially removed from the museum steps. It was later placed in South Philadelphia, returning to its current location in 2006. “The museum has had a rocky relationship with the statue,” Marchesano remarks, but he’s glad that the institute is finally welcoming it.
According to the Philadelphia Visitor Center, around 4 million people visit the Rocky steps each year, rivaling the Liberty Bell’s visitor numbers.
Visitors often share personal stories connected to Rocky. David Muller, a wrestling coach from France, says Balboa’s journey is a great inspiration for young athletes. Meanwhile, Kate Tarchalska traveled from Poland, expressing joy at finally visiting a place that was significant to her childhood. Suraj Kumar, who grew up in Bengaluru, India, felt compelled to visit after learning about the statue from his father.
The exhibition includes an impressive array of boxing art from the 1970s, featuring famous artists like Keith Haring and Andy Warhol. That era captivated the world with heavyweight boxing matches, and Marchesano points out how artists and filmmakers alike reflected this cultural frenzy. He emphasizes, “Without Joe Frazier, Rocky doesn’t exist,” linking the boxer’s real-life experiences to the film’s narrative.
When the exhibition wraps in August, the statue will find a new home at the top of the museum’s steps, a spot it has never officially held. As a nod to this change, a statue of Joe Frazier will then take its place at the bottom.
This evolution in the museum’s approach highlights how a beloved fictional character can resonate deeply with so many, bridging generations and cultures.
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