To mark what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, the National Portrait Gallery in London presents Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait, a major new exhibition celebrating the life, image and enduring legacy of one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars. Created in association with the Marilyn Monroe estate, the exhibition brings together unforgettable portraits by leading photographers and artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, alongside personal objects that reveal the woman behind the myth. From early pin-ups as Norma Jeane to her final photographs in Malibu, the show offers a powerful exploration of Monroe’s creative agency, cultural impact and lasting influence on art and popular culture.
Bringing together works by Andy Warhol, Pauline Boty, Marlene Dumas, James Gill, Rosalyn Drexler and Audrey Flack, alongside over 20 era-defining photographers, including 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, the exhibition will foreground Monroe’s collaborative approach to image making and her creative agency.
The exhibition will also include personal belongings such as books, scripts and clothes to enrich understanding of the woman behind the image. From the earliest ‘cheesecake’ pin-ups made when she was a young model named Norma-Jeane, to the most poignant final photographs taken on the beach in Malibu in 1962, Marilyn Monroe was one of the most photographed people in the world. A defining presence in popular culture, she captivated audiences with performances in much loved films such as Some Like it Hot.
In the 1950s and 60s, Marilyn Monroe’s popularity secured her starring roles in the work of artists including Richard Hamilton, Pauline Boty and Andy Warhol, whose ‘Marilyn’ portraits are among the most highly prized works of art in the world. She continues to fascinate artists, drawn to her iconic presence and fascinating life.
Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait runs from 4th June to 6th September, 2026 at the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square, London. Find more information here.
