Marilyn

From 30 May to 25 October 2026, Forum Groningen invites you to get to know the woman behind the myth of Marilyn Monroe. Even a hundred years after her birth, Marilyn still possesses an unmistakable and timeless appeal. 

What is it that continues to inspire today’s stars—Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, and Rihanna? The Marilyn exhibition explores this question and offers visitors a rare opportunity to see her clothing, personal belongings, letters, photographs, and film footage up close. In short, it presents an intimate and multifaceted portrait of the ultimate Hollywood icon. 

Norma Jean Baker, as Marilyn’s real name was, starred in several Hollywood films such as How to Marry a Millionaire, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and The Seven Year Itch, which features the famous scene with the billowing white dress. 

After Monroe’s death, her possessions were carefully stored away for many years. Only 37 years later did they finally come up for auction. Collector Ted Stampfer eagerly seized the opportunity—and those very special items will soon be coming to Groningen. 

She was ahead of her time as a businesswoman with her own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions. She was socially engaged and took firm stances, such as the time she insisted on entering a club through the front door with her friend Ella Fitzgerald instead of using the service entrance.

Marilyn had many faces, which is why people can still recognize themselves in her today. This exhibition allows you to discover the woman behind the myth: Marilyn Monroe was far more than just a sex symbol and style icon. Her life was filled with mystery, tragedy, and loneliness, and her influence as a world-famous pop culture icon remains indestructible to this day.