Celebrating the 100th birthday of Marilyn Monroe, this exhibition turns attention toward the photographers who participated in shaping her image and legacy.

Rather than focusing solely on Monroe as a Hollywood icon, the exhibition explores the artistic collaborations and personal connections behind some of her most recognizable photographs. Through their distinct artistic approaches and relationships with Monroe, André de Dienes, Willy Rizzo, and Bob Willoughby, each captured a different version of Marilyn — revealing not a single fixed identity, but a figure continuously transformed through the lens of the camera.

André de Dienes was known for his romantic, highly personal style of photography, often capturing subjects in natural outdoor settings rather than in formal studios. His photographs of Marilyn Monroe are among the earliest ever taken of her, revealing a young Norma Jeane before she became the Hollywood icon. Because of their close emotional relationship, his images often feel intimate, spontaneous, and deeply human. His work preserves a version of Marilyn untouched by the glamour and expectations of Hollywood stardom. Through de Dienes’ lens, Monroe appears not yet as a celebrity, but as a young woman standing at the beginning of her transformation.

This emerging image of Marilyn would later evolve into the polished glamour captured by Willy Rizzo, who became famous for photographing international celebrities, fashion figures, and cultural icons with a refined sense of sophistication. His work with Monroe reflects the height of her fame, presenting her as elegant, composed, and fully aware of her public image. Rizzo’s photographs contributed to the luxurious and timeless persona that came to define Marilyn in popular culture. Through dramatic lighting and carefully staged compositions, he transformed Monroe into a symbol of cinematic glamour and postwar celebrity culture. Yet beneath this perfection, his portraits still suggest the tension between performance and the person behind it.

That more private side of Monroe becomes especially visible in the work of Bob Willoughby, one of the pioneers of behind-the-scenes Hollywood photography. Unlike traditional studio portraiture, Willoughby focused on candid and unguarded moments, capturing actors between scenes and away from the spotlight. His photographs of Marilyn reveal moments of rest, reflection, and vulnerability rarely visible in formal publicity images. Through his documentary-like approach, Monroe appears more human and emotionally exposed, allowing viewers to glimpse the woman behind the celebrity image. 

Together, these photographs reveal Marilyn Monroe not simply as an icon to be observed, but as an image continuously constructed through collaboration, performance, and the gaze of those behind the camera. In bringing these perspectives together, the exhibition invites viewers to reconsider Monroe not as a singular figure, but as a multifaceted presence shaped through photography, memory, and artistic interpretation. 

All photographs in this exhibition are available to purchase. Please contact Elliott Gallery for availability and prices.