The Philadelphia Museum of Art is hosting 'Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments,' an exhibition exploring how the fictional boxer's statue became a real-world symbol, its complex history with the museum, and its upcoming permanent relocation to the top of the museum steps, with a Joe Frazier statue taking its current spot.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art's new exhibition, 'Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments,' delves into the cultural phenomenon of the Rocky Balboa statue, examining its journey from a film prop to a global symbol of struggle and endurance. Guest curator Paul Farber's brainchild, the exhibition traces 2,000 years of boxing imagery, connecting the enduring appeal of the 'body under struggle' to Rocky's narrative. Historically, the museum had a 'rocky' relationship with the bronze statue, initially fighting its presence after the 'Rocky' movies, relocating it, and only grudgingly accepting its return in 2006. Despite this, the statue draws approximately 4 million visitors annually, rivaling the Liberty Bell, with fans from across the globe connecting to Rocky's message of perseverance. The exhibition features galleries exploring the 1970s global boxing frenzy with works by artists like Keith Haring and Andy Warhol, and another dedicated to Philadelphia's boxing legacy, notably Joe Frazier, acknowledged as a key inspiration for Rocky. A significant outcome of the exhibition is the announcement that the Rocky statue currently inside the museum will move to a permanent home at the very top of the museum steps after August, a spot it has never officially held. The current outdoor statue, on loan from Sylvester Stallone, will be replaced by a statue of Joe Frazier at the bottom of the steps.
