Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait

Published in celebration of the Hollywood star’s 100th birthday and in association with the Marilyn Monroe estate, to accompany the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait celebrates Monroe’s enduring legacy as a cultural icon, by exploring her impact on photography, art and film.

Marilyn Monroe was one of the most famous and photographed women of the twentieth century whose cultural significance continues to fascinate generations.

Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait reflects on Monroe’s extraordinary impact on photographers and artists, showing familiar and rarely seen photographs of her, alongside outstanding artworks made during her lifetime and afterwards, that collectively create a portrait of her.

Today, as we better understand the challenges Monroe faced in her life and the agency she sought in shaping her career, her photographs have accumulated new meanings and captivated new audiences.

From her collaborations with photographers such as Eve Arnold and Richard Avedon to bold reinterpretations of her by Pop artists including Pauline Boty and Andy Warhol, Monroe’s image has been continually reimagined, speaking to her lasting impact on visual culture and our understanding of beauty, fame, and power.

Far more than a Hollywood star, Monroe was a complex figure; ambitious, witty, charismatic, and deeply involved in the crafting of her public persona. Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait includes contributions from the actor, director and writer Lena Dunham, playwright and cultural commentator Bonnie Greer and feminist art historian Griselda Pollock, who offer fresh and personal perspectives on Monroe’s cultural significance and enduring legacy.