Bert Stern’s Marilyn Monroe Photos At Keyes Gallery

Keyes Gallery in Sag Harbor in collaboration with the Bert Stern Estate is releasing a series of new, limited edition prints from “The Last Sitting” with Marilyn Monroe that took place at the legendary Bel-Air Hotel in Beverly Hills in 1962.

Called “The Red Show,” the exhibition opens at Keyes Gallery on Main Street Sag Harbor on Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14, 10 a.m., to 7 p.m. and remains on view through July 6.

Sterns photographic artworks of Monroe are black and white, along with sepia toned, hauntingly beautiful prints with themes of red. These works are sourced from the personal archives of Bert Stern’s, Marilyn Monroe, “The Last Sitting” series and are available in never before, large sized editions of eight.

Bert Stern began his photography career in the 1950s and quickly became a rising star in the world of advertising and fashion photography. Working alongside Stanley Kubrick, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, and his mentor, art director Herschel Bramson, he acquired clients such as Smirnoff Vodka, I. Miller and Dansk.

Stern then got his own studio, taking on clients such as Vogue, McCalls, Pepsi Cola, Volkswagen, and Levis. His conceptual, creatively fueled ad work was featured in LIFE Magazine. Sought after by Madison Avenue, Hollywood, and the international fashion scene, Stern was at the heart of what adman George Lois would call the creative evolution, hence his nickname, “The Original Madman.”

Stern minted the concept photographer as a star in his own right. Photographing what seemed like all of the world’s most beautiful women such as Twiggy, Audrey Hepburn, Bridget Bardot, Liz Taylor, and Marilyn Monroe, the kid from Brooklyn was living the dream.

Complimentary red silk masks and hand sanitizer will be available at the door of Keyes Gallery during the June 13 and 14 opening. Social distancing will be observed as mandated by the state. The gallery is located on Sag Harbor’s Main Street adjacent to The American Hotel. Visit juliekeyesart.com for more information.