A proposed plan to move the Rocky Statue from the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the top of them has been approved by the city’s Art Commission.
After spending almost 75 minutes discussing a move – which at times degenerated into a debate on art theory – the committee voted in favor of the proposal with four votes in favour, one vote against and one commissioner abstaining.
“Thinking about it through the lens of pop art — which I think has happened quite a bit — it’s a powerful example of democratic public art where value comes from public significance, not institution,” said committee member Rebecca Segal, who approved the request. “I believe that the monument – what I have seen and witnessed – functions in the same way that great public art does today, through recognition, repetition, and collective ownership and interaction.”
The proposal was first presented to the Commission last month. At the time, commissioners asked for additional information on availability, flow and feasibility.
During that meeting, the proposal changed dramatically after public outcry convinced “Rocky” actor Sylvester Stallone to allow the original A. Thomas Schomberg sculpture that appeared in the third “Rocky” film to remain in the museum. Stallone had already planned to take over the original and allow a replica to be placed on the renowned steps.
This isn’t the first time the statue has been placed at the top of the stairs. The original was unveiled there before filming began in 1981. From then until 2006, the structure moved around a bit before settling in its current street-level location, where it attracts approximately 4 million tourists each year.
“Despite previously being considered a movie prop rather than art, the monument has become the most popular and most visited public monument in the city, and its shape has been shaped by the millions of people who engage with it each year,” said Valerie Gay, Philadelphia’s chief cultural officer.
The second statue arrived, one of three made by Schomberg and borrowed from Stallone himself, and was placed at the top of the museum’s steps first ever RockyFest in 2024. This one will be returned to Stallone.
For those keeping count, there is also a third statue. It was unveiled at Philadelphia International Airport last November and will remain a eternal fixture in Terminal A-West, between gates A15 and 16. The fourth monument in Serbia was mentioned during the meeting, but it was carved by a different artist.
Before the statue is moved to its final place, it will go to a museum for the first time in history as part of “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments” exhibition, open from April 25 to August 2. The exhibition is curated by Paul Farber, director and co-founder of Monument Lab and host “The Statue” Podcast WHYYwhich details the history and issues surrounding the work of art.
The Rocky borrower will then be returned to Stallone and the original will be moved back outside, where it will stand about 15 feet from the stairs to provide more room for the tourists surrounding it. According to Creative Philadelphia, another city-owned monument, likely unrelated to Rocky, will take its place at the bottom of the stairs.
For decades, the museum has had a love/hate relationship with the concept of embracing the Rocky statue. As the voting shows, they are certainly on the side of “love” right now.
“The image of Rocky Balboa with his arms raised in triumph at the top of the steps has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Philadelphia,” wrote Mayor Cherelle Parker in a letter read during the meeting. “The Rocky statue is much more than a movie prop. The Rocky statue has become a cultural touchstone reflecting the values, strength and spirit that define this city. Rocky’s original location at the top of the art museum steps is essential to the meaning and intent of the work.”
“I think people are coming [to see the statue] not because they’re told to, they come because it’s theirs,” Segal said. “And that kind of cultural legitimacy can’t be manufactured, it can only be earned. And I think that was the case.”
Before the proposal was put to a final vote, guarantees were provided to address two of the Commission’s concerns:
- Adding “future engagement regarding the interpretability of the statue,” particularly regarding its plaque.
- Schedule for the launch of a up-to-date shuttle service that will allow visitors to view the monument. Gay said the shuttle will be operated by the Philadelphia Visitor Center and will run on a similar schedule to Philly Phlash.
“Even though we heard very romantic things about how it represented their experiences and worldview, there were people who felt like Rocky’s story didn’t always leave room for the local history on which it was built,” said committee member Matthew Jordan-Miller Kenyatta. “So I think some of the language that will emerge, both with the entry into the exhibit and with Rocky A returning, will leave a lot of room for that language to be able to better reflect history.”
The proposal listed the total relocation budget at $150,000 in public funds, although Creative Philadelphia said the final cost was still being confirmed and could rise to $250,000.
