Wilt Chamberlain (2004)

by Omri Amrany (b. 1954)

Photo Caption: Photo Caitlin Martin © 2014 for the Association for Public Art
  • Title

    Wilt Chamberlain

  • Artist

    Omri Amrany (b. 1954)

  • Year

    2004

  • Location

    Southeast corner of the Wells Fargo Center, 11th Street south of Pattison Avenue

  • Medium

    Bronze

  • Dimensions

    Height 18'

  • Themes

    Black and African American Themes and Artists

Commissioned by the Wilt Chamberlain Memorial Fund chaired by Billy Cunningham and Steve Cozen

Owned by the property owner

At A Glance

  • First commemorative statue installed outside of the Wells Fargo Center

  • Depicts a full-size figure of Chamberlain throwing a basketball with another full-size seated figure of Chamberlain holding a basketball

  • Over one hundred people attended the unveiling

The sculpture of the former 7-foot-1 Philadelphia 76er stands at 18 feet tall and weighs nearly three tons. The work was commissioned by the Wilt Chamberlain Memorial Fund, co-chaired by Billy Cunningham, a former teammate of Chamberlain’s on the 76ers, and Steven Cozen, a Philadelphia lawyer whose father was Chamberlain’s first basketball coach in high school.

There is a plaque at the base of the statue that reads: “The worth of a man is measured by the size of his heart.”

Sculpted by artist Omni Amrany, the work of art was the first commemorative statue installed outside of the Wachovia Center (now the Wells Fargo Center).

The sculpture depicts a full-size figure of Chamberlain throwing a basketball with another full-size seated figure of Chamberlain holding a basketball. There is a plaque at the base of the statue that reads: “The worth of a man is measured by the size of his heart.” Although Chamberlain was well-known for setting numerous NBA records and revolutionizing basketball, he was also known by many as a dedicated philanthropist. Over one hundred people attended the unveiling in June 2004.

 

RESOURCES:

Loading map...

More artworks