The Rocky Statue has stood outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art for decades.

However, now the iconic statue has taken residence inside the museum as part of its new exhibition, writes Nick Kariuki for Billy Penn at WHYY.

That is a major contrast from the relationship the museum and statue has had over the years.

“Never in a million years did I think that this statue was going to be inside the museum. And I think a lot of other people agree with me,” said Louis Marchesano, Philadelphia Museum of Art’s deputy director of curatorial affairs and conservation.

The Rocky statue is part of a new exhibition titled, Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments.

Despite being visited by about 4 million people yearly, some question whether the statue should be considered a work of art.

With it being part of an exhibition inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, that question is, at least partly, put to rest.

Instead the question is: Why do so many people visit?

Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments includes dozens of artifacts and artworks with unique stories behind them.

Paul Farber, the exhibition’s guest curator, said the goal is to bring interest back to where these pieces exist.

Read more about the Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments exhibit at Billy Penn at WHYY.

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