Munich Tip! May 29 – July 4, 2026 | Exhibition: Marilyn Monroe – 100th Birthday
With an impressive exhibition of photographic art, Galerie Stephen Hoffman in Munich commemorates "Marilyn Monroe – 100th Birthday," presenting original photographs by renowned photographers for this special occasion
On June 1st, Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 – August 4, 1962) would have turned 100 years old. Her life is showcased through impressive photographs spanning every phase of her life in an exhibition at Galerie Stephen Hoffman – Fine Art Photography, Prannerstrasse 5 – 80333 Munich (located at the rear of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof). Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (ENGLISH, ITALIANO, FRANÇAIS, DEUTSCH)
Munich. This year, Marilyn Monroe—born Norma Jeane (June 1, 1926 – August 4, 1962)—would have celebrated her 100th birthday. To mark this occasion, Galerie Stephen Hoffman – Fine Art Photography, located in Munich’s city center, is exhibiting signed, limited-edition original photographs by prominent photographers: Lawrence Schiller (*1936), Douglas Kirkland (1934–2022), Milton H. Greene (1920–1985), André de Dienes (1913–1985), and Elliott Erwitt (1928–2023). Through their iconic prints, these artists have shaped the public image of Marilyn Monroe—an image that endures to this day. The photographs featured in the exhibition were taken in studios, on film sets, and within the private sphere of this legendary actress, capturing MM in the distinct style and from the unique perspective of each respective photographer.
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| Photos: Left, in the display window – Ed Clark, 1953 – Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell performing in gowns designed by Travilla during the filming of *Gentlemen Prefer Blondes* / Center: Lawrence Schiller, Marilyn Monroe in the film *Something’s Got to Give*, Los Angeles, CA, 1962 / On display: books by the featured photographers – shown here is the display window of the Stephen Hoffman – Fine Art Photography gallery at Prannerstrasse 5 (rear entrance of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof) during the exhibition installation in May 2026; Photos – Copyright: see below. Foto: Helga Waess (Pressefoto) |
Lawrence Schiller (*1936)
Lawrence Schiller is the only surviving photographer of Marilyn Monroe. Lawrence Schiller captured the image "Marilyn Monroe in the film *Something’s Got to Give*" in Los Angeles, CA, in 1962, thereby creating an icon of photographic art. Various shots depict MM by the pool, and the viewer can practically sense that the photographer enjoyed Marilyn Monroe’s absolute trust.
Schiller’s recorded conversation with Marilyn Monroe—which documents this period—has become legendary: "You’re already famous. Now you’re going to make *me* famous," photographer Lawrence Schiller told Marilyn Monroe as they discussed the photographs he was about to take of her. "Don’t be so conceited," Marilyn teased him; "photographers are easily replaced." That was in 1962; the 25-year-old Schiller was in Hollywood on assignment for *Paris Match* to photograph Marilyn on the set of her new film, *Something’s Got to Give*. He already knew Marilyn—the two had met during the filming of *Let’s Make Love*—but nothing in the world could have prepared him for the day, during the filming sessions then underway, when she presented herself nude by the swimming pool. "…Her wet skin glistened. Her eyes sparkled. Her smile was seductive," Schiller recalled of the moment that would serve as a major career boost for him, while securing for Marilyn the headlines and magazine covers she had hoped for. (Cf. Cover text: Lawrence Schiller, *Marilyn & Me: A Memoir in Words and Photographs* – Taschen, 2021) – Lawrence Schiller currently lives and works in New York, Los Angeles, and Newtown, Pennsylvania.
Douglas Kirkland (1934–2022)
In 1961, Marilyn Monroe posed for him in a studio, draped beneath a white silk sheet. For *LOOK* magazine, Douglas Kirkland (1934–2022) spent a night in the studio with Marilyn, capturing Monroe in a manner so natural—and with such personal intimacy—that she had never been photographed before. In his book *A Night with Marilyn*, the photographer recounts his first personal encounter with the star. It proved to be the "most memorable evening" of his life. Marilyn herself dictated how she wished to pose—a method that aligned perfectly with Douglas Kirkland’s own approach. He photographed celebrities as they chose to present themselves: in a deeply personal and intimate light.
Milton H. Greene (1920–1985)
Greene was a close friend and confidant to Marilyn Monroe between 1953 and 1957; he instilled in her the self-confidence to challenge the all-powerful Hollywood studios and to forge her own path. This bond was fostered by the fact that Greene—unlike any other photographer—maintained almost constant contact with Marilyn. His photographs of "MM" became icons of photographic art, earning Milton H. Greene numerous national and international awards, medals, honors, and distinctions—including those from the American Institute of Graphic Arts and the Art Directors Club. In 1999, *TIME* magazine named the famous "Ballerina Sitting"—captured in Milton H. Greene’s studio—as one of the top three photographs of the 20th century.
André de Dienes (1913–1985)
An agent introduced André de Dienes to a 19-year-old young woman: Norma Jeane Dougherty—the future Marilyn Monroe. De Dienes recognized her genuine youthful freshness, her innate photogenic quality, and her sex appeal. André de Dienes immediately hired the blonde beauty for a modeling job. — De Dienes’s early photographs of the young MM are on display in the exhibition.
Elliott Erwitt (1928–2023)
In 1960, as a Magnum photographer, Elliott Erwitt documented Marilyn Monroe during the filming of *The Misfits* in Reno, Nevada. In his capacity as a Magnum photographer, he documented MM on set—at times capturing her in intimate and relaxed, private moments. His photograph *The Misfits* depicts Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift, Eli Wallach, director John Huston, and screenwriter Arthur Miller during a break in filming.
Galleriest Stephen Hoffman has been dedicated to the art of photography since 1989
Stephen Hoffman works on an international level, collaborating personally with the photographers featured in the portfolio of his Munich art gallery—or directly with their estates.
For photography enthusiasts, this gallery in the heart of Munich is a true gem:
Collectors of fine art photography, curators of international collections, and photography lovers alike appreciate the guaranteed quality and authenticity of the prints—most of which are limited-edition and signed—as well as the "icons of photography" offered here.
Fine Art Photography Exhibition
at Galerie Stephen Hoffman in the heart of Munich
May 29 to July 4, 2026
Marilyn Monroe – 100th Birthday
Original Photographs by Renowned Photographers
Location:
Galerie Stephen Hoffman – Fine Art Photography
Prannerstrasse 5 – 80333 Munich – Rear entrance of Hotel Bayerischer Hof
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Copyright for the photographs displayed here in the window:
Left: Ed Clark, 1953 – Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell performing in gowns designed by Travilla during the filming of *Gentlemen Prefer Blondes* © Ed Clark / Courtesy: Galerie Stephen Hoffman, Munich
Center: Lawrence Schiller, Marilyn Monroe in the film *Something’s Got to Give*, Los Angeles, CA, 1962 © Lawrence Schiller / Courtesy: Galerie Stephen Hoffman, Munich
