Why Do Millions Visit the Rocky Statue? | Paul Farber on Rising Up at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Why do millions of people visit the Rocky statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art every year? Guest Curator Paul Farber explores that question in "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments," a groundbreaking exhibition that examines the Rocky statue as both a Philadelphia landmark and a powerful public monument. Through boxing, art, history, and civic memory, Rising Up traces the connections between ancient depictions of fighters, Philadelphia’s boxing legacy, contemporary art, and the enduring cultural impact of Rocky Balboa. The exhibition invites visitors to consider why monuments matter, who they represent, and how they shape our understanding of belonging, identity, and history. Farber reflects on the contradictions at the heart of the Rocky statue: a fictional Hollywood boxer celebrated in a city shaped by real-life champions such as Joe Frazier. By bringing the iconic bronze sculpture into the museum, Rising Up creates new opportunities to explore how monuments connect us to the past while continuing to evolve through public interaction. "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments" is on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art through August 2, 2026. Learn more and plan your visit: https://philamuseum.org #Rocky #RockyStatue #PhiladelphiaMuseumOfArt #RisingUp #PaulFarber #Monuments #Philadelphia #BoxingHistory #JoeFrazier #ArtMuseum _________________________________________________________________________ Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of the largest art museums in the United States, offers a vibrant campus along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, featuring world-renowned galleries, the iconic “Rocky Steps,” the Anne d’Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden, and the nearby Rodin Museum. Our encyclopedic collection spans over 4,000 years, telling stories across time, place, and culture. There are always new ways to connect with art, culture, and each other at the museum. Visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art: https://philamuseum.org