‘The original triple threat’: two exhibitions celebrate Marilyn Monroe as creative pioneer

The British Film Institute (BFI) and the National Portrait Gallery have announced two major exhibitions to celebrate the centenary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth. The BFI will host a two-month film season titled 'Marilyn Monroe: Self Made Star,' featuring a comprehensive look at her filmography and a theatrical re-release of her final film, *The Misfits*. Simultaneously, the National Portrait Gallery will present 'Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait,' an exhibition exploring her influence on visual culture through works by artists like Andy Warhol and Richard Avedon, including rare photographs taken just before her death.

Inside the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Juicy New Show

The Vancouver Art Gallery has unveiled 'Highlights from the Collection,' a major long-term exhibition featuring 200 works selected from its permanent holdings of over 13,000 items. Curated by a team led by Eva Respini, the show marks a strategic shift for the institution by committing to a semi-permanent display that will remain on view until 2030. The exhibition includes iconic pieces ranging from Gathie Falk’s ceramics to Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe prints and Claes Oldenburg’s sculptures.

At Palm Beach’s Hottest Fair, Blue-Chip Meets Emerging Art

The ninth edition of the Palm Beach Modern and Contemporary (PBM+C) art fair opened with a VIP preview benefiting the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. The fair, presented by Art Miami, features 55 international galleries showcasing a mix of blue-chip modern works, contemporary art, and emerging talent, with highlights including special exhibitions dedicated to Russell Young's Marilyn Monroe centennial works and a satellite exhibition at the sculpture garden.

Chickens, train surfers and Marilyn Monroe: Magnum’s print sale – in pictures

Magnum Photos, in partnership with The Photographers' Gallery, is holding a print sale titled 'Odyssey' featuring works from over 100 of its photographers. The sale includes iconic images from artists like Eve Arnold, Alec Soth, and Chris Killip, with themes ranging from personal journeys and American life to global migrations and cultural rituals. The event runs until March 29, 2026.

Philippe Halsman's Portraits Feature the Entire 20th-Century Cultural Elite: The Exhibition in Veneto

Nei ritratti di Philippe Halsman c’è tutta l’élite culturale del Novecento. La mostra in Veneto

The Palazzo Pinato Valeri in Piove di Sacco, Italy, is hosting a comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the legendary photographer Philippe Halsman. The show traces his career from his early 1930s Parisian portraits to his iconic American period, featuring his surrealist collaborations with Salvador Dalí and his famous "Jumpology" series. The collection includes intimate and experimental portraits of 20th-century icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein, Alfred Hitchcock, and Sophia Loren.

Work by incarcerated artists showcased in recent exhibit at IHM Sisters' gallery

The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Motherhouse Gallery in Monroe, Michigan, recently hosted an exhibition featuring artworks created by incarcerated individuals from across the state. Organized in collaboration with the University of Michigan's Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP), the show featured pieces made from unconventional materials like soap and graham crackers. The collection ranged from spiritual and hopeful works to those reflecting the harsh realities of the correctional system, with proceeds from sales supporting PCAP’s ongoing programming.

Work by incarcerated artists showcased in recent exhibit at IHM Sisters' gallery

The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Motherhouse Gallery in Monroe, Michigan, recently hosted an exhibition featuring artworks created by incarcerated individuals from correctional facilities across the state. Organized by the University of Michigan’s Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP), the show displayed pieces made from unconventional materials like soap and graham crackers, ranging from spiritual reflections to bright, hopeful compositions. The exhibit was curated from donated works by artists who are unable to keep their pieces or sell them directly due to Department of Corrections regulations.

The Academy Museum Reclaims the Real Marilyn Monroe

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is launching a major exhibition to mark the centenary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth, seeking to re-examine her complex legacy. Moving beyond the simplified tropes of the tragic starlet, the show investigates whether Monroe was a passive victim of the Hollywood studio system or a savvy, self-aware architect of her own public persona.

A Delightful Short Film Highlights the Remarkable Self-Taught Art of George Voronovsky

Ukrainian-born artist Jonko “George” Voronovsky transformed his modest retirement room at Miami’s Colony Hotel into a dense, vibrant sanctuary of over 5,000 artworks. After surviving the horrors of the Russian Revolution, Nazi labor camps, and permanent separation from his family, Voronovsky immigrated to the U.S. and spent his final years creating "memoryscapes." These works, crafted from found materials like pizza boxes and soda cans, depicted idyllic, colorful scenes of his youth in Ukraine, contrasting sharply with the trauma of his past.

What to know about 'The Bird Sisters' art exhibit opening April 17

Artists and sisters Darlene Belair and Karen Dheel are set to debut a collaborative exhibition titled "The Bird Sisters" on April 17 at the Michigan Wine and Beer Portal in Monroe. The three-month showcase features a diverse range of acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media paintings that reflect the duo's deep connection to the local landscape. Belair, a long-time community artist and resident at the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, will present nature-focused works, while Dheel will display plein air paintings and pieces inspired by the symbolism of ravens.

Monroe County students helped curate new TMA online birds exhibit

Twenty-five art students from the University of Toledo, including local Monroe County residents Keira Turvey and Sara Wisler, have curated a new digital exhibition for the Toledo Museum of Art titled “Birds in Art: Devotion and Decadence.” The project marks a significant milestone for the university's art program as it is the first time students have developed an exhibition designed to exist exclusively in an online format.

Local artists highlighted at library exhibition

The Rochester Folk Art Guild highlighted local artists and makers at an exhibition held at the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County on April 25, 2026. The event allowed the public to interact directly with craftsmen and learn about the traditions and experiences that influenced their work.

Marilyn Monroe, Iconic Idol

Marilyn Monroe, idole iconique

The Cinémathèque française in Paris is presenting an exhibition dedicated to Marilyn Monroe to mark the centenary of her birth. The show explores her evolution from actress to a globally reproduced image, featuring portraits by renowned photographers and examining her enduring cultural presence.

Art-loving couple enjoys the island life

Michael and Bernadette Monroe, an elderly couple with deep roots in the art world, have moved into the Island House senior living community on Mercer Island. They describe the community as positive and stimulating, enjoying local amenities and trips to places like the Frye Art Museum.

ari emanuel frieze la sales 2747230

Billionaire Ari Emanuel, whose company Endeavor recently acquired the Frieze art fairs, kicked off the VIP opening of Frieze Los Angeles by acquiring three works by 86-year-old Black quiltmaker Yvonne Wells. Emanuel entered the Santa Monica Airport venue ahead of the general VIP crowd, purchasing textile portraits of Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley from New York gallery Fort Gansevoort. The transaction, facilitated by Emanuel's long-time advisor Jeffrey Deitch, set a high-energy tone for an opening day that saw brisk sales, including a $3.75 million Ed Ruscha painting at Gagosian.

The DIVAs are coming to the Denver Art Museum, an exclusive fashion exhibit featuring celebrity red carpet looks

The Denver Art Museum will host the international touring exhibition "DIVAs" from October 2026 to January 2027, making it the only U.S. venue for the show. Organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the exhibit features over 200 objects including costumes and accessories worn by icons such as Lady Gaga, Rihanna, RuPaul, Prince, Tina Turner, and Marilyn Monroe. Highlights include Rihanna's 2018 Met Gala gown by John Galliano for Maison Margiela and Tina Turner's Bob Mackie "Flame Dress" from 1978. The ticketed event will take place in the Hamilton Building.

sleep artist lee hadwin 1623505

Artist Lee Hadwin creates elaborate drawings and paintings while sleepwalking, with no memory of making them. His nocturnal creativity began at age four and intensified at 15 when he produced three pencil drawings of Marilyn Monroe overnight. Now based in London, Hadwin has made hundreds of works while asleep, selling them for $1,500 to $10,000 each. His art is currently featured in a sleep-themed exhibition in Albury, Australia, and he is working on a book titled *The Awakening*.

DIVA

Denver has been announced as the exclusive US venue for 'DIVA,' a major fashion and iconography exhibition organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The show will run from October 4, 2026, to January 31, 2027, at the Denver Art Museum’s Hamilton Building, featuring over 200 objects and more than 50 costumes worn by legendary performers including Maria Callas, Cher, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, RuPaul, Prince, Tina Turner, and Marilyn Monroe.

art gallery of ontario major gift 2714505

The late Toronto collectors Morton and Carol Rapp have donated over 450 artworks by 203 artists to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) from their estates. The gift includes major Pop art works: 13 screen prints by Andy Warhol (including four Marilyn Monroe portraits from 1967), works by Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenburg, Roy Lichtenstein, and David Hockney, as well as Barnett Newman's lithograph CANTO XVIII—the first work by the Abstract Expressionist in the AGO's collection. The donation also features photography by Yinka Shonibare and Kara Walker. The Rapps began supporting the AGO in 1966 and had already donated 474 works over six decades; this final gift brings their total contribution to nearly 1,000 pieces.

art gallery of ontario major gift 2714505

The late Toronto collectors Morton and Carol Rapp have donated over 450 artworks by 203 artists to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) from their estates. The gift includes major Pop art works: 13 screen prints by Andy Warhol, including four Marilyn Monroe portraits (1967); works by Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenburg (including the sculptural print 'Teabag' from 1966), David Hockney, and Roy Lichtenstein; plus Barnett Newman's 1964 lithograph 'CANTO XVIII', marking the Abstract Expressionist's debut in the collection. The donation also features photography by Yinka Shonibare and Kara Walker. The couple, who began supporting the AGO in 1966, had previously donated 474 works, bringing their total contribution to nearly 1,000 pieces.

‘Fall of Freedom’ art exhibition coming to Bloomington this weekend

The 'Fall of Freedom: Fighting Fascism Through Art' exhibition opens this weekend in Bloomington, featuring over 40 works by eight local artists. The event runs Friday evening and Saturday at 714 W. Kirkwood Ave, with sculptures, paintings, ceramics, live music by Travers Marks, protest poster-making, and a 'Wall of Dissent.' Admission is free, with donations and art sales benefiting the Community Kitchen of Monroe County. Artists include main coordinator Paul Pruitt, Bert Gilbert, and Lance Pruitt, whose works respond to political themes including Donald Trump, fear as a political tool, and the struggles of farmers and immigrants.

‘Fall of Freedom’ art exhibition coming to Bloomington this weekend

The 'Fall of Freedom: Fighting Fascism Through Art' exhibition opens this weekend in Bloomington, featuring over 40 works by eight local artists. The event runs Friday and Saturday at 714 W. Kirkwood Ave., with live music by Travers Marks, protest poster-making, and a 'Wall of Dissent.' All proceeds from art sales and donations benefit Community Kitchen of Monroe County. Artists include main coordinator Paul Pruitt, who shows sculptural pieces made from found objects inspired by Donald Trump, Bert Gilbert with his piece 'Fear From The Left And Fear From The Right,' and Lance Pruitt, who presents text-based woodworking.