Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon at the Academy Museum

Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles is marking her centennial with a show built around a single claim: that she was not only a star but a visionary image-maker. Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon runs through Feb. 28, 2027. For New Yorkers planning a West Coast trip this winter, here is what the museum says is on view and what to check first.

The premise

The museum describes the exhibition as celebrating Monroe "as a visionary actor and image-maker," examining how she created and shaped her public image within the classical Hollywood studio system. The emphasis is agency: the show is organized to give "unique insight into her agency in becoming a Hollywood icon," in the museum's words.

That framing is a deliberate answer to older narratives that treat Monroe mainly as a product of studio publicity. Whether the exhibition persuades will depend on the documents it shows, and we have not seen it in person.

What is on view

According to the museum, the show presents hundreds of original objects, including posters, portraits, photographs, production documents, letters and rarely seen personal materials, many on display for the first time. It also includes an extensive group of screen-worn costumes, from a dress in Love Happy (1949) to items from her final, unfinished film, Something's Got to Give (1962).

Two highlights are named. One is a pair of costumes by Orry-Kelly from Some Like It Hot (1959). The other is the rarely exhibited pink dress by William Travilla from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), the costume most closely tied to the musical number "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." The museum's page names the dress but not the song; the song association is our addition and common film history.

Who made it

The exhibition is curated by Associate Curator Sophia Serrano, with support from Curatorial Assistant Simran Bhalla. It is made possible by Chanel, and the museum credits Icon Collection with generous loans of objects. Additional support comes from Dave and Tara Dollinger and Kimberly V. Strauss.

The involvement of a luxury brand and of a private collection is worth noting for readers who want to weigh the show's choices. Neither the museum's announcement nor our other sources describe any editorial arrangement between lenders, sponsors and curators, and we did not find independent reviews of the exhibition.

Visiting

The Academy Museum is at 6067 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Its exhibition page says it is open six days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Tuesdays. A search summary of the museum's visit page lists adult admission at $25, with free entry for visitors 17 and under, and encourages advance reservations. We did not open the visit page itself, so confirm prices and hours before you go. Exhibitions at the museum are on specific floors; one summary places this show on Level 3, which we could not confirm on the official page.

Pair it with the screenings

The museum's October calendar includes film screenings tied to the exhibition, such as The Seven Year Itch, according to the museum's calendar listing. Check the calendar for current dates, since screening schedules change more often than exhibition run dates.

For readers who prefer to prepare, the films named above give a viewing list: Love Happy, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Some Like It Hot and The Seven Year Itch. Watching one before the visit makes the costumes read as part of a performance rather than as relics.

Why the centennial matters

A centennial is an editorial occasion as much as a commemorative one. Museums choose centennials to re-argue reputations, and this show is arguing that a figure known for being looked at was also directing how she was looked at. That is a claim about authorship, and it fits the Academy Museum's focus on filmmaking as craft rather than fame.

What we could not confirm

We have not seen the exhibition and found no critical reviews. Ticket prices, the exact floor and any timed-entry rules come from secondary summaries or were not verified on the official visit page. We did not confirm attendance figures or whether additional objects have been added since opening on May 31.

FAQ

When does the exhibition close?

Feb. 28, 2027.

Where is it?

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles.

Who curated it?

Associate Curator Sophia Serrano, with Curatorial Assistant Simran Bhalla.

Sources

*Cover photo: Studio publicity still, Wikimedia Commons, *[*https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marilyn_Monroe,_Photoplay_1953.jpg*](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marilyn_Monroe,_Photoplay_1953.jpg)* (Public domain).*