By Zach Ciavolella
Philadelphia’s favorite fictitious fighter is getting a brand new exhibit in his honor at the Philadelphia Art Museum.
Titled ‘Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments,’ the landmark exhibition arrives just in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film franchise that not only inspired a city but became one of the most iconic film franchises of all time. The exhibit is set to open in the Dorrance Galleries in April 2026, per the museum’s announcement.
With works spanning from antiquity to the present day, the exhibition will showcase more than 150 works by over 50 artists, blending the worlds of art, sports, and pop culture. Organized by guest curator Paul Farber, director and co-founder of Monument Lab, Rising Up will explore the profound meanings and mythologies of the famous Rocky statue that sits outside the Art Museum.
‘Rising Up’ spotlights the often-overlooked stories that relate to the iconic franchise and statue. Stories of Philadelphia’s boxing legends, immigrant neighborhoods, and the fight for the future of public spaces.
“The Rocky statue is the most visited and photographed public artwork in Philadelphia, attracting nearly as many annual visitors as the Statue of Liberty,” said Louis Marchesano, the Marion Boulton “Kippy” Stroud Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs and Conservation. “’Rising Up’ is an opportunity for the Art Museum to reframe the narrative around Rocky and the steps, placing it in the context of Philadelphia’s civic and cultural identity.
“We are thrilled to work with Philadelphia thought leader Paul Farber to approach this topic with criticality and imagination, bringing a fresh take on a storied debate about the role of monuments outside the museum, in Philadelphia, and beyond.”
After more than five years of research for the exhibit, with the previous two in development, ‘Rising Up’ is nearing its official debut and will include a variety of elements, including monumental sculptures, paintings, video performances, film clips, photographs, prints, drawings, new commissions, ephemera, and interactive experiences.
The exhibit will feature a number of artists, including Keith Haring, Rashid Johnson, Delilah Montoya, Tavares Strachan, Hank Willis Thomas, Kara Walker, Andy Warhol, Carrie Mae Weems, and makers from Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Restorative Justice Program.
There will also be an accompanying written work, edited by Farber, that includes contributions from celebrated Philadelphia artist Alex Da Corte, former Philadelphia Eagle and Super Bowl champion Malcolm Jenkins, and noted film critic Carrie Rickey.
In addition to the exhibit’s debut coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the original Rocky’s premiere, this exhibition also adds to an eventful 2026, which will see Philadelphia host World Cup matches and later celebrate Semiquincentennial activities.
‘Rising Up’s opening will be supported by a pay-what-you-wish opening weekend program and additional community engagement opportunities.
To learn more about ‘Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments’ and more coming to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, visit visitpham.org