Shepard Fairey (OBEY) (1970) - Marilyn Sunset

Marilyn Sunset. 24" H x 18" W. Screen print on 80# cream Speckletone paper.
Original illustration based on a photograph by Milton H. Greene.
Signed by Shepard Fairey.
Numbered edition of 500.

Marilyn Monroe has fascinated me since I was a child. I was probably ten years old when I asked my dad “why is Marilyn Monroe so famous?” He answered something like “well, she was a symbol of American beauty and hope. She burned bright but tragically died young.” I was intrigued and watched Marilyn’s movies whenever they showed on cable. Seeing her on screen, I was mesmerized by her allure, her humor, and her vulnerability. I might not have been able to articulate it as a young person, but Marilyn had range and nuance that were magnetic and I leaned in. Later in high school I became interested in pop art and one of the genre’s most famous series of images are Andy Warhol’s Marilyn portraits. Warhol’s Marilyns are superb in their use of color and effectively achieve his goal of reducing her to a high-contrast iconic, but impersonal representation. However, iconic glamour is only one dimension of Marilyn. When I was presented with the opportunity to make art of Marilyn based on photos by Milton H. Greene from 1956 when she was at the height of her powers, I was struck by the intimacy and vulnerability of the images. To me, these images called for a much more delicate approach compared to Warhol’s in order to convey more nuance and humanity. Even though Marilyn showed courage and conviction fighting for civil rights, equality, and against McCarthyism, her mental health struggles are widely recognized. I felt it was important to depict her precarious dance between wide-eyed aspiration and shying away from the glare of the spotlight. I hope these images, “Marilyn Sunrise” and “Marilyn Sunset” inspire an empathetic look at Marilyn’s complex humanity and remind us that we are all teetering between strength and fragility.