MARILYN MONROE 100

Welcome to the Marilyn Monroe 100 exhibition, prepared by the Czech Gallery of Modern Art on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of the most prominent personalities of the 20th century.

Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson, was born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles. From a girl with a difficult childhood, she became the most photographed woman and a symbol of the Hollywood dream within a few years. Her face, characteristic voice, and unmistakable presence in front of the camera secured her an extraordinary position in the world of film, photography, and popular culture. However, behind the brilliant image of a movie star stood a sensitive, intelligent, and ambitious woman who strived for artistic recognition, creative freedom, and the right to decide her own career throughout her life.

You can look forward to a captivating story of Marilyn Monroe, which will present her not only as an actress and cultural phenomenon but also as a woman full of fragility and inner strength. The exhibition includes more than 270 photographs by 31 renowned authors, including Sam Shaw, André de Dienes, Bert Stern, Eve Arnold, Richard Avedon, George Barris, Philippe Halsman, Tom Kelley, Bruno Bernard, and Milton H. Greene.

The exhibition also features more than 30 works by prominent American and Czech artists such as Andy Warhol, Romero Britto, Mr. Brainwash, Charles Fazzino, Michael Godard, Pasta Oner, Štěpán Mareš, and others. You can view personal items that provide an intimate insight into the private life of a woman who became a timeless symbol of beauty, fame, and vulnerability.

The exhibition captures the transformation of Norma Jeane into Marilyn Monroe – from her first photographs and film roles through the peak of her Hollywood career to her transformation into a universal cultural icon that inspires photographers, painters, fashion designers, and generations of admirers worldwide. It shows Marilyn not only as a silver screen legend but also as a personality who managed to overcome the limitations of her time and left an exceptionally strong mark on the history of modern culture.

We wish you a magnificent experience of the exhibition, which presents Marilyn Monroe in photographs, paintings, and stories – not only as a legend but primarily as a human being.

Thank you to our partners:

Max Real Estate Fund SICAV a.s., PRE,

Pražská plynárenská, a.s. , Pražská plynárenská Distribuce, a.s.