National Gallery Opens Marilyn Monroe Exhibit
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- National Portrait Gallery launched the blockbuster exhibition Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait to commemorate Monroe’s 100th birthday.
- Marilyn Monroe is introduced with a 1940 photo‑booth self‑portrait taken as Norma Jeane Baker, a regular‑looking teenager.
- Richard Avedon contributed iconic photographs, yet the show frames Monroe as the one in control of her image.
- Andy Warhol is represented, illustrating Monroe’s status as a mid‑century cultural icon.
- Philippe Halsman showcases experimental techniques like surrealist collages and solarisation, highlighting creative approaches to Monroe’s likeness.
- Magnum secured exclusive rights to document the production of The Misfits, featuring work by Eve Arnold and Inge Morath.
- Peter Blake incorporated a photograph of Monroe’s body bag into his 1988 collage Norma Jean Baker, underscoring the stark contrast between her fame and her death.
Why it matters: By framing Monroe’s image as a self‑directed icon, the exhibit reshapes public memory of the star, giving the National Portrait Gallery a high‑profile draw while risking a one‑dimensional view that downplays her personal fragility and the darker side of fame.
