Artwork Details
- Title
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Artist
- Omri Amrany (b. 1954)
- Year
- 2004
- Medium
- Bronze
- Dimensions
- Height 18'
Artwork Description
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.
Sculpted by artist Omri 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.
Artwork Credits
Commissioned by the Wilt Chamberlain Memorial Fund chaired by Billy Cunningham and Steve Cozen
Owned by the property owner