The Philadelphia Art Museum will debut a new exhibition titled "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments" in April 2026, centered on the iconic Rocky statue. The show, timed to the 50th anniversary of the original "Rocky" film, features over 150 works by more than 50 artists and artifacts spanning 2,000 years, exploring how monuments are created and reshaped by artists, communities, and time. It will highlight overlooked stories behind public statues, including Philadelphia's boxing legends, immigrant neighborhoods, and debates over shared spaces.
This exhibition matters because it reframes a beloved pop-culture icon as a lens for examining broader questions about public art, memory, and community identity. By placing the Rocky statue—a symbol of Philadelphia's grit—at the center of a scholarly and artistic inquiry, the museum engages with ongoing national conversations about monuments, representation, and whose stories are told. The timing also coincides with Philadelphia's Semiquincentennial year, adding civic significance to the show.