Acrylic on canvas. June, 2024.
After learning her tragic story through a character study for a high-school theatre performance, Marilyn Monroe’s life quickly became a source for deep creative inspiration – ‘Portrait of Norma Jean’ attempts to encapsulate the unseen, human side of Monroe.
Instead of depicting a colourful, happy girl this painting captures the tortured woman behind the mask, the creative genius silenced by sexism.
By presenting her in black and white she becomes a historical figure and an autonomous being, something that extends beyond the canvas… this silence invites viewers to look deeper than the symbol of Monroe.
