MARILYN, the exhibition
Not just the blonde bombshell we all know
The life and legacy of the glorious Marilyn Monroe, nom de plume of Norma Jeane Mortenson, has been shown at the new exhibition ‘Marilyn’ at The Arches, London.
For the first time, 250 pieces from the private collection of Ted Stampfer, founder and director of the Marilyn Monroe Institute, have been displayed, creating a unique visual experience.
Few stars have captivated the world quite like Marilyn Monroe: she transformed herself from a troubled foster child into Hollywood’s ultimate blonde bombshell. With her dazzling smile, breathy voice, and unforgettable performances in films like Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Monroe became a symbol of glamour, sensuality, and vulnerability. Decades after her untimely death in 1962, she remains an enduring cultural icon, inspiring fashion, films, and feminist discourses.
The intention of this exhibition is to explain who Marilyn Monroe was through a wide range of incredible pieces, from photographs of her tweenhood to her personal letters, scripts, and even her last will, offering an intimate glimpse into her private world.
As a woman of the roaring twenties, Norma Jeane Mortenson invented new roles: she built a new kind of self-confidence based on androgynous looks, emancipation, and a more open view of sexuality, even though, as she stated: “A sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate being a thing.”
Starting with a long hallway, numerous descriptive panels lead you through the life of one of the most acclaimed actresses of all time. In fact, these panels are what make you feel completely immersed in the exhibition, providing a perfect insight into her journey. While the mesmerizing, shining dresses play a crucial role in the experience, it is Monroe’s handwritten notes, scripts, and the fans’ love letters that leave the most lasting impression.
The fact that Monroe’s life and legacy continue to spark conversation today speaks volumes about her enduring cultural significance. Often seen as just a sex symbol, Monroe cleverly used her image to challenge and subvert the very norms that sought to confine her.
Her existence was shaped by a profound dichotomy: she was idolized yet misunderstood, empowered yet exploited, celebrated yet deeply lonely. In an era when actresses were often controlled by the industry, she fought for autonomy, refusing to be just another cute face in the crowd.
This exhibition offers much more than a celebration of a Hollywood icon: it provides a window into the life of Norma Jeane Mortenson, the woman behind Marilyn Monroe. Too often reduced to the stereotype of the naive blonde bombshell, Monroe was a far more complex and multifaceted figure. Walking through the exhibition, it becomes clear how much of her story has been oversimplified or misunderstood: her intelligence, her artistic ambitions, her struggles, and her relentless pursuit of control over her own image. Through rare photographs, personal writings, and intimate moments captured beyond the Hollywood spotlight, this exhibition dismantles the myth to reveal a woman who was not just a product of her time, but someone who actively challenged it.
All images by Mariachiara Di Costanzo