Rocky's rise: a bronze icon finds its place in art history
For decades, the Philadelphia Museum of Art maintained a polite, almost embarrassed distance from the throngs of visitors who flocked to its steps not for the Impressionists, but for a bronze statue of a fictional boxer. Now, in a striking reversal, the museum is embracing the unexpected devotion, weaving the story of Rocky Balboa into a broader narrative of monuments and the human spirit with the exhibition, 'Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments'.
A symbol forged in struggle
The statue, originally placed at the foot of the steps during the filming of the 1976 film, became an unlikely pilgrimage site. Its return to the location in 2006, after a period residing in South Philadelphia, was met with a fervor that even the museum initially resisted. As Louis Marchesano, the museum's deputy director of curatorial affairs and conservation, explained, the enduring appeal of the figure stems from a deeply rooted human fascination with struggle. “The common theme that runs throughout 2,000 years of boxing imagery is that people respond to the body under struggle, a conflict in much the same way today as they did 2,500 years ago.” It’s not simply about physical confrontation, but about enduring, about internal fortitude.
The exhibition itself is a testament to this evolving understanding. Guest curator Paul Farber, who has explored the topic extensively through his NPR podcasts, has assembled a sweeping collection spanning over two millennia of boxing imagery. Visitors will encounter works by Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol, artists who captured the global boxing mania of the 1970s, a period when knowing the heavyweight champion was practically a global obsession. Stallone, in creating Rocky, tapped into that same collective consciousness, exploring themes of internal and external conflict with an authenticity that resonated worldwide.
But there’s a complicated history here. The museum, at one point, actively sought to have the statue removed after filming concluded. Marchesano candidly admitted, “The museum has had—and I hate to say this, no pun intended—a rocky relationship with the statue. It took us decades to come to terms with it.”
Beyond the steps: philadelphia's own champion
The exhibition doesn’t shy away from Philadelphia’s own boxing heritage, featuring photographs of the iconic Blue Horizon gym and a dedicated section to Joe Frazier, the legendary boxer who served as a profound inspiration for Stallone’s creation. Marchesano emphasized, “Without Joe Frazier, Rocky doesn't exist.” Frazier’s story—his grit, his determination—is woven into the fabric of the film, and the exhibition acknowledges this debt.
The exhibition's closing in August will mark a significant transition. The statue currently residing outside the museum will be permanently installed at the top of the steps, a symbolic coronation for a figure that once stood on the periphery. To fill the void at the base of the steps, a statue of Joe Frazier will take its place, ensuring that the legacy of Philadelphia’s true champion is forever enshrined.
Around 4 million people visit the steps annually, rivaling even the Liberty Bell for foot traffic—a testament to Rocky's enduring power. As David Muller, a wrestling coach from France, observed after leading his students up the steps, arms raised in imitation of Balboa, “The movie 'Rocky' is important for the mind of sport and the mind of life.” And that, perhaps, is the most profound monument of all.