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Andy Warhol's Gold Marilyn Monroe is composed of a small, colored silkscreened photograph of Monroe’s face centered on a large (83” x 57”) gold-painted canvas. Completed in 1962, it depicts the celebrity Marilyn Monroe in the center of a large, gold canvas. The image of Monroe is a direct copy of a close-up shot from the film Niagara. This piece was completed the same year as the celebrity's death.

(=Monroe the Celebrity=)

A sex icon with an innocent aura, Monroe lived a paradoxical life. She was a highly sought-after celebrity, yet she suffered from stage fright and anxiety. Once Monroe was immersed into Hollywood, she was an influential character but she was subject to the lifestyle that accompanies fame. As her popularity increased, her drug habit and anxiety got more and more out of control. This led to her eventual suicide in 1962.

(=Artistic Technique of''Gold Marilyn Monroe=)

Warhol painted a large canvas shiny gold. In the center of the canvas, he silkscreened a black and white photograph of Monroe. He painted her face, hair, and blouse.

(=Interpretations=)

Gold is a color which signifies wealth, fame, illumination, and wisdom. It draws the eye to the central figure: Marilyn Monroe. The image of Monroe was not painted by Warhol. In fact, it is a direct copy of a close-up image from the film Niagara. This suggests to the reproducibility of Hollywood actors: Hollywood will always find new actors to replace old ones. Gold Marilyn Monroe includes a reproduction of an iconic image, but it is shown in a new light. She is encompassed by this ocean of gold, the relentless waters of Hollywood. Though Monroe’s face is the main focal point, it is very small in relation to the whole canvas, signifying the effects of grandeur on the human psyche. Monroe’s struggle with fame and drug addiction led to her eventual overdose and suicide in 1962. Warhol was entranced by the idea of fame and beauty, leading him to undergo a number of cosmetic surgeries in early adulthood. He dyed his hair metallic-white after college and got nose-reduction surgery in his mid-twenties. He was living in New York City when he created Gold Marilyn Monroe. He was much immersed into the celebrity lifestyle, frequenting Studio 54 and even producing television shows in his later years. It can be inferred that he idolized Marilyn Monroe and related to her struggles with anxiety. Gold Marilyn subtly conveys these struggles Monroe and Warhol both underwent. The figure in the center of the canvas is empowered, yet oppressed. This dichotomy is synonymous to the life that Monroe led. . As her popularity increased, her drug habit and anxiety got more and more out of control. The dark-gold background of Gold Marilyn Monroe adds to the twinkle of Monroe’s close-up. She appears to shine brighter amidst this already shiny color; this gives the impression that Monroe was her own entity, illuminating those around her. Although she was part of Hollywood, she created her own image and had a unique personality. She turned into a sex icon while still retaining elements of childlike innocence. She was known as a feminist, but she died before the feminist movement gained much traction. Monroe’s life was very complex. Although she was a star, she struggled with stage fright. She had drug problems, but she mostly kept it out of the public sphere. The Hollywood lifestyle was a catalyst for her eventual suicide. The gold background of Warhol’s Gold Marilyn is the depiction of Hollywood; Marilyn is stuck right in the middle, unable to escape.

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