Douglas Kirkland's Coco Chanel and Marilyn Monroe Photos in Biella

Over a hundred photographs by Douglas Kirkland (Toronto, 1934) comparing the elegance of Coco Chanel and Marilyn Monroe will be on view at Palazzo Gromo Losa in Biella from May 22 to September 12, 2021. The exhibition, titled "Coco + Marilyn. Biella al centro del MI-TO," is curated by Photo OP agency. Kirkland, a photojournalism legend who began as Irving Penn's assistant and shot for Life and Look, captured his portraits of Chanel and Monroe in the early 1960s—a pivotal era when photography became central to consumer culture. The show coincides with the 50th anniversary of Chanel's death and the 100th anniversary of Chanel N°5 perfume. Previously presented in UNESCO Creative Cities Budapest and Helsinki, the Biella edition aims to engage the local textile district through collateral events: "Ricucire il futuro" (student fashion designs inspired by Chanel and sustainability at Spazio Cultura) and "Walking like" (a Città Studi project imagining a Marilyn Monroe wardrobe).