By Rosie Broadley, Lena Dunham, Sarah Churchwell, Bonnie Greer, Rosie Broadley, Georgia Atienza and Sean Burns
Publisher: National Portrait Gallery
Publication date: July 2026
Print length: 256 pages
Language: English
Price Range:
Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait offers a compelling and deeply nuanced exploration of one of the most iconic women in modern history, moving far beyond the familiar image of the “blonde bombshell” to reveal the complexity, intelligence, and cultural power of Marilyn Monroe. Richly illustrated with extraordinary photographs, artworks, and archival material, this remarkable publication traces how Monroe’s image evolved throughout her lifetime and continued to resonate long after her death, becoming one of the defining visual symbols of the twentieth century.
From intimate collaborations with legendary photographers such as Eve Arnold, Cecil Beaton, Richard Avedon, and Milton Greene to transformative interpretations by artists including Andy Warhol, Pauline Boty, Cindy Sherman, and Marlene Dumas, the book explores the countless ways Monroe has been seen, reinvented, mythologized, and understood. More than simply documenting a Hollywood star, Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait examines the relationship between photography, celebrity, femininity, and power in the modern age.
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in 1926, Monroe rose from an unstable childhood to become one of the most recognizable faces in global culture. Yet behind the carefully constructed glamour was a woman acutely aware of her own image and determined to shape it herself. The publication highlights Monroe’s active role in crafting her persona, revealing her not merely as a subject before the camera, but as a creative collaborator who understood the emotional and symbolic force of photography better than almost anyone of her era.
Featuring essays and reflections by leading writers, critics, and cultural figures including Lena Dunham, Bonnie Greer, and Griselda Pollock, the book offers fresh perspectives on Monroe’s artistic legacy and enduring influence on contemporary culture. Elegant, insightful, and visually stunning, Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait is both a tribute to a cinematic legend and a fascinating study of how images shape collective memory, desire, and identity across generations.