Celebrating the centenary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth, the Paris-based Cinémathèque is dedicating a new exhibition to one of cinema’s most revered icons. Running from 8 April to 26 July 2026, the show explores Monroe’s extraordinary screen presence, her carefully constructed public image, and the lasting fascination she continues to inspire.
Bringing together publicity stills, costumes, film clips, archival documents, and portraits by major photographers and artists including Eve Arnold, Richard Avedon, and Andy Warhol, the exhibition offers a broad portrait of Monroe’s career and legacy. It aims to dismantle the idea of viewing Monroe solely as a Hollywood legend, instead appreciating the actress as a working performer shaped by studio systems, media attention, and her own ambitions.
The exhibition also examines the contrast between Monroe’s glamorous image and the intense scrutiny she faced throughout her life. By revisiting the photographs, films, and objects that helped define her public persona, the Cinémathèque invites visitors to see beyond the countless legends and conspiracies and rediscover the woman behind it.
A true symbol of glamour, postwar stardom, and timeless beauty, Monroe remains a figure of cultural obsession more than six decades after her death. This retrospective reflects not only her influence on cinema but also her wider impact on fashion, photography, and popular culture. For admirers and newcomers alike, it offers a chance to revisit a star whose image has become inseparable from the history of modern celebrity.
