National Portrait Gallery marks Marilyn Monroe centennial with portrait exhibition

The National Portrait Gallery in London presents "Marilyn: A Portrait," an exhibition running through September 6th that explores how artists have depicted Marilyn Monroe. Curator Rosie Broadley notes that Monroe never sat for a portrait, so all paintings are based on photographs, reflecting her public persona. The show coincides with the centennial of Monroe's birth and includes works created both during her life and after her death, which cemented her status as a cultural icon. Broadley emphasizes that Monroe was an active agent in shaping her photographic image, which influenced painted portrayals.