Neil Anthony Edwards, Rocky, Going the Distance, oil on canvas, 33 x 48 inches, shown on a white background. A faceless man in a gray sweatsuit runs toward the viewer down a tree-lined boulevard hung with international flags, followed by a large crowd of children, with Philadelphia City Hall tower and skyscrapers in the background.
Neil Anthony Edwards, Rocky, Going the Distance, oil on canvas, 33 x 48 inches, shown in a black frame hanging above a dark wood sideboard with a table lamp and red berry branches in a modern interior.
Neil Anthony Edwards, Rocky, Going the Distance, oil on canvas, 33 x 48 inches, shown framed on a light gray wall. A faceless man in a gray sweatsuit runs down a flag-lined boulevard ahead of a crowd of children, with city skyscrapers behind.
Neil Anthony Edwards, Rocky, Going the Distance, oil on canvas, 33 x 48 inches. A faceless man in a gray sweatsuit runs toward the viewer down a tree-lined boulevard hung with international flags, followed by a large crowd of children, with Philadelphia City Hall tower and skyscrapers in the background.
Neil Anthony Edwards, Rocky, Going the Distance, oil on canvas, 33 x 48 inches, shown on a white background. A faceless man in a gray sweatsuit runs toward the viewer down a tree-lined boulevard hung with international flags, followed by a large crowd of children, with Philadelphia City Hall tower and skyscrapers in the background.
Neil Anthony Edwards, Rocky, Going the Distance, oil on canvas, 33 x 48 inches, shown in a black frame hanging above a dark wood sideboard with a table lamp and red berry branches in a modern interior.
Neil Anthony Edwards, Rocky, Going the Distance, oil on canvas, 33 x 48 inches, shown framed on a light gray wall. A faceless man in a gray sweatsuit runs down a flag-lined boulevard ahead of a crowd of children, with city skyscrapers behind.
Neil Anthony Edwards, Rocky, Going the Distance, oil on canvas, 33 x 48 inches. A faceless man in a gray sweatsuit runs toward the viewer down a tree-lined boulevard hung with international flags, followed by a large crowd of children, with Philadelphia City Hall tower and skyscrapers in the background.
Neil Anthony Edwards

Rocky, Going the Distance

  • Rocky, Going the Distance 
  • Neil Anthony Edwards (New York)
  • 33"H x 48"W
  • Oil on canvas 
  • Framed in black and ready to hang 

Edwards’ rich background from his Caribbean parents, sportsmanship, artistic prowess, and years of global travel thread through his artwork as a cosmopolitan cadence. Edwards attended High School for Art and Design where he studied color theory, critical thinking, and artistic techniques, and later attended Stony Brook University where he would go on to be drafted and become a professional basketball player in the NBA playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Following his career in the NBA, Edwards began traveling overseas to play international basketball in countries such as China, Lebanon, Venezuela, and Italy, however after years on the court, Edwards found his ultimate home and solace back in his art studio. 

"Through the streets of Philadelphia, Rocky runs with a generation of children at his heels—each stride carrying the weight of struggle and the possibility of something greater. This painting celebrates the courage to believe in yourself before the world gives you a reason to. His determination becomes contagious, reminding us that pushing through our own obstacles can inspire others to see beyond theirs.

The international flags lining the boulevard widen that message beyond one man or one city. Each represents a distinct history, culture, and identity, yet together they frame a shared journey. Across borders, we know struggle, hold dreams, and hope to build something that lasts. Beneath these flags, the run becomes a symbol of unity: people from different backgrounds moving forward together, connected by courage, hope, and the desire to overcome.

Within my We Are All Fading series, Rocky’s face is intentionally absent. His identity lives in his movement, his familiar clothing, and the spirit he represents. Without facial features, the viewer has room to enter the painting—to recognize their own setbacks, sacrifices, and unfinished dreams in his journey.

The children embody hope and the legacy we create through our actions. They follow someone whose perseverance gives them permission to believe. As the city recedes behind them, the painting connects a fleeting moment to an enduring influence: our bodies fade, time moves forward, but the courage we awaken in others can outlive us.

We are all fading. What we do while we are here still matters." - Neil Anthony Edwards

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