The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has opened a new installation, "Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon," timed to the 100th anniversary of Monroe's birth. The exhibit features iconic items such as the hot pink gown from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," designed by William Travilla, and personal effects like parts of her makeup regimen. Associate curator Sophia Serrano curated the show, drawing on collections from devoted fans who see Monroe as a symbol of resilience despite her tragic death at 36 from an overdose.
This exhibition matters because it reframes Monroe's legacy beyond her status as a tragic Hollywood icon, highlighting her pioneering role in the repressive 1950s—she was sex positive, spoke openly about psychotherapy, defied studio heads, started her own production company, and demanded control over her image. The show also underscores Monroe's enduring cultural impact, inspiring art from Andy Warhol's "Marilyn Diptych" to Seward Johnson's "Forever Marilyn" statue, and fueling a continuing stream of books and films that explore her life and mystery.