The Philadelphia Museum of Art is embracing a statue it once kept at arm’s length. A new exhibition, “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments,” brings the bronze figure of Rocky Balboa inside for the first time, reframing it as both pop culture icon and part of a 2,000-year tradition of boxing imagery. The show explores how the fictional fighter became a global symbol of struggle and resilience. For decades, the museum sought to remove the statue. It is now a pilgrimage site that draws millions each year. After the exhibit closes, the statue will move to a permanent spot atop the museum’s steps.
