BECOMING MARYLIN & BECOMING ELVIS
24 Jan 2024 - 24 March 2024
FotoNostrum | MUUS Collection
©️ André de Dienes / MUUS Collection
Photographer André de Dienes, celebrated for his Marilyn Monroe images, chronicles her evolution from Norma Jeane Baker to Hollywood stardom. Born in 1913, Dienes' career shifted from communist journalism to fashion photography. Meeting Monroe in 1945, he embarked on a West Coast journey, capturing her innocence against Pacific landscapes. Their collaboration thrived until 1954. The exhibition, spanning 1946 to 1953, showcases Monroe's rise from a model to Hollywood icon. Dienes' reflections post-1962 underscore enduring love. A storm in 1952 led to buried treasures, revealing intact negatives—a poignant legacy of Norma Jeane's Marilyn metamorphosis.
©️ Alfred Wertheimer / MUUS Collection
Born in Coburg, Germany, in 1929, Alfred Wertheimer fled Nazi persecution with his family, settling in Brooklyn in 1936. After graduating in advertising design, he became the Army's official photographer in 1952. Hired by RCA Victor Records in 1956, Wertheimer documented Elvis Presley during a pivotal period. Over two weeks, he captured intimate moments, including the iconic "The Kiss." Elvis's rapid ascent to stardom during the Stage Show marked a turning point. Wertheimer's access resulted in over 2,500 photos, chronicling Elvis's journey to becoming a celebrity, millionaire, and movie star by 1956's end. Wertheimer's lens also documented pivotal moments in U.S. history, leaving an indelible legacy.