Content Writer: Rocky Statue Takes Center Stage in New Philadelphia Museum of Art Exhibit on Monuments and Boxing History

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is opening a major new exhibition this weekend that places the iconic Rocky statue at the center of an exploration of monuments, celebrity, and public memory spanning more than two millennia.

Titled “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments,” the exhibition opens to the public on April 25, 2026, following a member preview on April 24. It features over 150 works by more than 50 artists, tracing how fighters have been portrayed as public figures from ancient sculptures to contemporary art.

The bronze statue of Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, which has stood on the museum’s steps since 1982 and draws an estimated 4 million visitors annually, is being moved inside the building for the first time to serve as the focal point of the show. The statue, originally a movie prop from “Rocky III,” has become one of Philadelphia’s most popular tourist attractions.

Guest curator Paul Farber, director and co-founder of Monument Lab, said the exhibition aims to examine not just the statue itself but the people who engage with it. “One of my hopes is that the museum and the statue not only see each other, but all of the people who have made meaning within and across those public spaces, receive spotlight and love,” Farber stated.

The exhibition includes works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Glenn Ligon, Hank Willis Thomas, and Lisa Brice, who revisit the history of boxing and celebrity through the lens of race, gender, and identity. These pieces illuminate what visitors project onto the Rocky statue — ideals of the underdog, perseverance, spirit, and grit.

As part of the museum’s broader repositioning of monuments, a statue of real-life boxer Joe Frazier will be placed in the spot where the Rocky statue previously stood outside. Frazier, who trained on the same steps, is often overlooked despite his deep ties to Philadelphia. City officials hope the pairing highlights connections between real and fictional fighters.

The exhibition will run through August 2, 2026. Admission is $35, which includes general museum access, while members receive free entry. The member preview on April 24 allows members to bring up to two guests at no cost.