Marilyn Monroe will soon be honored for her 100th birthday. Yet, like ripples on a pond, her memory lives on through countless people who are connected and inspired by her enduring legacy.
During the early days of the pandemic, I happened upon Marilyn’s crypt, where I was surprised to find wet lipstick marks and flowers decorating her resting place while the majority of the world was standing six feet apart. Knowing little about Marilyn, I began to interview and photograph visitors at her grave. Many shared stories of how memories of Marilyn’s remarkable attributes and actions helped them through the toughest of times. I learned Marilyn is a symbol of hope for many.
I took my camera to the streets, where I discovered that Marilyn remains a force in Southern California. I found Marilyn-related locations where I could observe and document, often waiting for hours or days for an image to materialize.
Through this experience, my understanding of my own work and self has deepened by encountering others’ connection to Marilyn. I now see my own story through a different lens: my own personal history with its challenges and scars, and persevering in spite of it all.
These images from “Marilyn in My Neighborhood” are from my larger series, “The Legacy of Marilyn Monroe.”
