A new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London celebrates the centenary of Marilyn Monroe, exploring her life, career, and enduring legacy through portraits created by many of the greatest photographers and artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
From Norma Jeane to Marilyn Monroe
Born on 1 June 1926, Marilyn Monroe remains a defining presence in popular culture. From her first pin-up photographs as a young model named Norma Jeane to her final interview for Life magazine and poignant images on Santa Monica beach in 1962, she was one of the most photographed people in the world. While working in a munitions factory, Monroe was photographed by documentary photographer David Conover, who suggested a modelling career. Her image, reproduced on numerous magazine covers, caught the eyes of movie talent scouts. In 1946 she signed her first contract with 20th Century Fox, who advocated for a name change.
Intimate Portraits and Artistic Collaborations
The exhibition features a range of iconic images. One photograph shows Monroe reading James Joyce's Ulysses on Long Island in 1955, captured by Eve Arnold at an abandoned children's playground. Another image, The Swimming Pool Sitting from 1956, reveals a young freckle-faced star enjoying a cool swim at the home of Richard Rogers. In 1956, Monroe and Milton H Greene produced Bus Stop, her most dramatic role to date. She married playwright Arthur Miller and converted to Judaism. Monroe appointed Sir Laurence Olivier as director and co-star of The Prince and the Showgirl (1957), filmed in London.
Later Years and Lasting Legacy
Looking for a fresh start in 1962, Monroe returned to Los Angeles, buying her first home in Brentwood. She gave a candid interview to Life magazine, noting, 'If I was a star, it was the people who made me one, not a studio or any single person.' Following her death that year, artists including Andy Warhol, James Francis Gill, Pauline Boty, and Richard Hamilton created works reflecting the disjuncture between her public persona and private tragedy. Warhol's cycle of Marilyns are perhaps the most famous portraits of the star.
Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait is at the National Portrait Gallery, London until 6 September.
