For the first time on Kooness, Sam Shaw's unreapatable photographs will make you rediscover the 1950s Hollywood Icon.
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Born in New York in 1912, Sam Shaw is considered among the most influential professionals for his iconic shots of film sets and movie stars. His artistic view started from his childhood when, without money to buy the right materials, he wandered the streets of New York collecting tar with which to make sculptures. In the early 1950s, he started working at 20th Century Fox.
More than 50 years after Marylin Monroe’s death in 1962, she remains a powerful sex symbol and cultural icon. Her beauty, allure and uniqueness were photgraphed by many significant photographers, including Richard Avedon, Eve Arnold, Milton Greene, Bert Stern and Cecil Beaton. Yet, the most famous shot of Marylin – and the one which set her international fame – was by her close friend, Sam Shaw.
Soon enough, Shaw and Monroe developed a close friendship. She called him ‘Sam Spade’, making reference to the fictional private detective. Not long after, he began capturing Marylin in informal portraits that captured her playful side. Shaw said, ‘I just want to show this fascinating woman, with her guard down, at work, at ease off-stage, during joyous moments in her life and as she often was – alone.’
The Exhibition
"The Joy of Marilyn" is a must-see exhibition for all art lovers and fans of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. The photographs presented in the exhibition were taken by the american photographer Sam Shaw, who captured the essence of the star.
Sam Shaw began his career as a fashion and cinema photographer, but his encounter with Marilyn Monroe marked a decisive turning point in his career. He was able to capture the sensuality and vulnerability of the star through his photos, creating images that have made history in photography.
Marilyn Monroe became the most famous icon in Hollywood thanks to her natural beauty, charm, and talent. She starred in cult films such as "Some Like It Hot" and "The Seven Year Itch," and became one of the most popular actresses of her time. Despite her short life, she remained an emblematic figure of popular culture until today.
Sam Shaw's photos of Marilyn Monroe have become iconic thanks to the unique combination of her beauty and Shaw's intrinsic vision. The images presented in this Kooness exhibition capture both the sensuality and vulnerability of Marilyn, creating intense and moving portraits. The exhibition is a true tribute to one of the most famous figures in cinematic history and one of the most talented photographers of his time.
The photographs for sale are prints made after Sam Shaw's death, in 2005. Each photograph is printed on Ilford Cibachrome paper, limited to only 30 copies. Stamps from the photographer, the family archives, and the laboratory. The photographs are framed.
"The Joy of Marilyn" exhibition offers you the opportunity to discover the most beautiful photographs of Marilyn Monroe taken by Sam Shaw, a talented artist who captured the essence of the star through his images. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover or rediscover the Hollywood icon that is Marilyn Monroe, as well as the work of a photographer who has created iconic images that have made history in photography."The Joy of Marilyn" is a must-see exhibition for all art lovers and fans of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe.
The photographs presented in the exhibition were taken by the american photographer Sam Shaw, who captured the essence of the star.
Sam Shaw began his career as a fashion and cinema photographer, but his encounter with Marilyn Monroe marked a decisive turning point in his career. He was able to capture the sensuality and vulnerability of the star through his photos, creating images that have made history in photography.
Cover image: Sam Shawn, Dressroom, NYC - Facing the mirror, 1956. Courtesy of Millennium Art Gallery
Written by Millennium Art Gallery
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