The exhibition will feature a selection of works ranging from Warhol to Avedon, as well as 432 previously unseen photographs taken for Monroe's last interview.
Marilyn Monroe will be commemorated with a major exhibition in London on the 100th anniversary of her birth. The National Portrait Gallery will revisit the life, career, and growing influence of one of Hollywood's most powerful icons with the exhibition "Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait," opening its doors on June 4th.
The exhibition, which will be open until September 6, 2026, examines Monroe not only as an unforgettable star of the silver screen, but also as a figure who created and directed her own image and continues to influence the art world even after her death.
The exhibition, prepared by the National Portrait Gallery in collaboration with the Marilyn Monroe Estate, is organized to mark the 100th anniversary of Monroe's birth. Born Norma Jeane on June 1, 1926, Monroe's visual story, from her earliest poses as a young model to her final photographs taken on Santa Monica beach in 1962, will be showcased at the exhibition.
The exhibition centers on Monroe's relationship with photographers. Because Monroe wasn't just a star posing for the camera, as is often thought. She was someone who voiced her opinions, directed the scene, rejected shots she didn't like, and had a say in her own image.
The exhibition will feature works by Andy Warhol, Pauline Boty, James Gill, Rosalyn Drexler, and Audrey Flack, as well as works by more than 20 other important photographers who photographed Monroe.
Portraits from the lenses of Cecil Beaton, Philippe Halsman, Bernard of Hollywood, André de Dienes, Eve Arnold, Inge Morath, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Milton Greene, Sam Shaw, Richard Avedon, and George Barris will show how Monroe was represented in different ways over the years.
One of the most striking sections of the exhibition will be previously unseen photographs from the archives of Life magazine. These images, taken by Allan Grant at Monroe's Brentwood home, were prepared for her last interview, published just one day before her death.
The shoot, which accompanied the interview conducted by Life editor Richard Meryman, involved 432 frames. However, only eight of these photographs were published at the time. The images included in the exhibition show Monroe reading the interview transcript, sometimes cheerful, sometimes subdued and withdrawn.
Many photographers who worked with Monroe described her as "the best model they had ever worked with." This wasn't just because of her beauty or her ease in front of the camera. Monroe was a star who knew how to set up a photograph, valuing light, pose, and the power of expression.
Therefore, the exhibition positions Monroe not as a passive movie star, but as an active participant in the process of creating her own image.
Marilyn Monroe's death in 1962 also caused a great stir in the art world. British Pop Art artist Pauline Boty expressed her admiration and grief for Monroe in works such as “The Only Blonde in the World” and “Colour Her Gone.”
Andy Warhol, drawing inspiration from a promotional photograph of Monroe for the film “Niagara,” created screen prints that are now among the most recognizable images in art history. Warhol’s depiction of Monroe’s face on a gold background elevated her beyond that of a Hollywood actress, transforming her into one of the most powerful symbols of American culture.
James Francis Gill’s “Marilyn” trilogy and Joseph Cornell’s memorial boxes dedicated to Monroe will also be featured in the exhibition as part of this posthumous legacy.
“Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait” is curated by Rosie Broadley, Senior Curator and Curatorial Associate Head of 20th Century Collections at the National Portrait Gallery, and Georgia Atienza, Assistant Curator of Photography.
A publication with the same title is also being prepared. The book will feature writings by Rosie Broadley, Lena Dunham, Sarah Churchwell, Bonnie Greer, and Sean Burns on Monroe's life, image, and cultural impact.
National Portrait Gallery Director Victoria Siddall, in her statement regarding the exhibition, emphasized that Monroe remains one of the most recognizable figures in modern history:
“Marilyn Monroe continues to be one of the most recognizable figures in modern history. A symbol of glamour distilled from the films she starred in and the countless photographs taken of her; an image further amplified by artists across generations she inspired. We are proud to host this exhibition celebrating Marilyn's 100th anniversary. The exhibition explores her extraordinary life, impact, and enduring legacy.”
Rosie Broadley, one of the exhibition's curators, also noted that Monroe was a figure who transcended her own time.
“It was a great privilege to prepare an exhibition about a woman who both defined and challenged her era. Besides her iconic beauty, Marilyn Monroe possessed a unique attitude, intelligence, strength, and humanity. Therefore, it is no surprise that she was such a fascinating figure for artists both during her lifetime and in subsequent years.”
(Source: https://www.odatv.com/dunya/marilyn-monroeya-100-yasinda-londrada-dev-sergi-hic-gorulmemis-fotograflari-sergilenecek-120146596)