The 100th Birthday Celebration, from Norma Jean to Marilyn Monroe exhibit, at the Hollywood Museum.

 The 100th Birthday Celebration, from Norma Jean to Marilyn Monroe exhibit at the Hollywood Museum.

(WestHollywoodToday.blogspot, CA May 27 2026)

By Karen Ostlund
                                               
Donelle Dadigan, Founder/President of The Hollywood Museum and an amazing group of personalities, celebrated the 100th Birthday of Marilyn Monroe, May 26th 2026, with the opening of the new exhibit “From Norma Jean to Marilyn Monroe".
                                                                        

Donelle Dadigan, said “We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone of one of Hollywood’s iconic film stars-actually, one of the world’s most Iconic Film stars- to ever grace the screen, Marilyn Monroe! We are excited to re-dedicate "Max Factor’s Blondes Only Room" where Marilyn Monroe became the blonde as we know her in her films.  It is truly an honor to be the custodian of the makeup room where Marilyn Monroe’s iconic hair color was created.  The exhibit features the personal side of Marilyn, the side few knew and many loved. This exhibit will show her personal side and personal items that belonged to Marilyn.”
                                                             

The Hollywood Museum's  "Blondes Only Room" houses Marilyn's most personal items, clothing, jewelry, shoes, undergarments, her makeup chair & case. Also on display is her million-dollar honeymoon dress for her marriage to Joe Dimaggio and a dress worn by Marilyn at post wedding party to Arthur Miller, as well as items that Arthur Miller gave her, and even her personal bottles of prescription medication, and an exclusive look at never-before-published photos of Marilyn.

George Barris collection of photography is part of the Marilyn Monroe Centennial Exhibit: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION FROM NORMA JEAN TO MARILYN MONROE
The Girl, The Guts, The Glamour…The Hometown Icon You Didn’t Know.
 
Caroline Barris, Daughter of the Late George Barris said "A very special photo (Reflections) that has never before been seen  publicly from George Barris legendary last photo sessions with Marilyn Monroe taken from mid-June thru July 1962 just weeks before she passed away,  as part of the Barris Exhibit "Marilyn: As She wanted to be seen through the lens of George Barris: 1954-1962", including a special Immersive experience of my father George Barris when he photographed  the Iconic Marilyn Monroe, on the set of the "Seven Year Itch” (September 1954) to the personal and private moments of the famous 1962 session.
                                                                 

                                                                                                                               
The Hollywood Museum's year-round Marilyn Monroe Exhibit in the historic Max Factor building features an extensive collection of her personal wardrobe, jewelry, and iconic screen-worn costumes.
Key costumes and clothing highlights include:
The "Million Dollar" Honeymoon Dress: Marilyn's favorite hand-beaded Ceil Chapman gown, worn on her 1954 honeymoon with Joe DiMaggio and during a USO tour for 10,000 troops in Korea.
The Pucci Blouse: A bright hot-pink silk jersey Emilio Pucci blouse gifted to the daughter of her psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson.
The "Misfits" and "Showgirl" Pieces: A brilliant green Pucci jersey top (from one of her last photoshoots) and a cream-colored beaded costume from The Prince and the Showgirl.
The Replica Seven Year Itch Dress: An identical replica of her world-famous white subway grate halter dress, created by award-winning designer Don-Ya.
Personal Wardrobe & Accessories: Springolator high heels, an early career cocktail dress, her personal evening cape, and even her makeup bag.

                                                                        

                                      
Personalities who attended included: Donelle Dadigan (Founder/President of the Hollywood Museum), Morgan Fairchild (Falcon Crest/Friends/Bold & Beautiful), George Chakiris (Academy Award winner West Side Story/Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), Ruta Lee (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), Stephanie Kramer (Hunter), Rex Smith (Broadway, Film, TV, Music star), Luke Yankee (Son of Eileen Heckhart who starred with Marilyn in “Bus Stop” and was baby-sat by Marilyn),Tyrone Dubose(Unsung), Erin Murphy (Bewitched), Kathy Kolla (Plastic Daydream),Nancy Harding (Blessings in Disguise/Murder at the Merriweather), Vanessa Angel (A Perfect Christmas Kiss), Geoffrey Mark (Emmy Award winning author), Barry Livingston (My Three Sons), Ilene Graff (Mr. Belvedere),Michele Lee (Knots Landing),Teresa Ganzel (The Toy), Billy Van Zandt (Newhart/Martin/Jaws 2), Kevin Spirtas(Emmy Winner/ After Forever/ Days of Our Lives), Dee Wallace (ET), Rico Anderson(S.W.A.T/Star Trek),Shadoe Stevens (Legendary Announcer), Alisha Soper (Starred as Marilyn Monroe in films), Ann Walker(Sorted Lives), Alice Amter (Big Bang Theory), Sam Harris (Music star), Eve Richards(Straight Shot/ A Line of Fire), Melissa Niece Smith(Bold and Beautiful/ The Dream), Daniella Kelly (Be Live with Dani Podcast/ Former Brazilian Cultural Ambassador to China), Blac Chyna (Music and TV Personality), Meredith Thomas (Premarital), Connor Dean (9-1-1), Jax Malcom (This is My Story), Kym Whitley(TV Personality) Marcelia Iglesias (Tv personality Model, Influencer), Caylee Cowan (actress/ Mother and Me), Amy Kaplan (Golden Bachelor), Paola Paulin (Actress/Model/ influencer),Ana Maria Perez (Actress/influencer),Crystal Harris( Model/Influencer), GloZell L. Green (Influencer), Our 3 Dads(Reality stars of their show Our 3 Dads),Jean Kasem (Ghostbusters/Cheers/The Tortellis), Jessica Lee (Deal or No Deal/ General Hosptial), Erin Gavin (Played Marilyn in Sinatra and Marilyn),Lydia Cornell (Too Close for Comfort) and Carolyn Hennesy (Emmy winner/GH/True Blood).
                                                                

ADDRESS: 1660 N. Highland Ave.Hollywood, CA 90028
MUSEUM INFO: www.TheHollywoodMuseum.com
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INSTAGRAM: @HollywoodMuseum

"Hospital of Emotions” - St. Vincent Medical Center's Art Installations on view, through July 31 2026.

 "Hospital of Emotions” - St. Vincent Medical Center's Art Installations, on view May 27 through July 31 2026.

Photos by Karen Ostlund          Instagram: @hospital.of.emotions   

Los Angeles, WestHollywoodToday.blogspot CA (May 21, 2026 Preview)
                                                             

Artist DAK (David A. Knudsen) "Neon office"

This May 27th, Hospital of Emotions opens inside a former wing of St. Vincent Medical Center, transforming one of Los Angeles’ most historic hospital sites into a immersive, 4-floors art experience.

The show is presented by House of Art and Dreams, ROYVA Group, and the St. Vincent Behavioral Health Campus, and curated by House of Art and Dreams.
                                                                    

Artist Nathalie Auzepy "Healing Hands"

The installations re-imagine the building, now part of the St. Vincent Behavioral Health Campus, as a space shaped by artists, where emotion is experienced through environment, scale, and imagination. Unlike a traditional exhibition, Hospital of Emotions uses the hospital rooms itself as material to install art.
                                                              

Artist Allison Reber "Plants-in-bed"

“Hospital of Emotions begins with the space itself. A hospital is where we confront fear, but also recognize what matters. Here, the building becomes a journey through human emotion—shifting the focus from treating the body to experiencing and processing emotion,” said the curatorial team at House of Art and Dreams.
                                                                      

Artist Greg Corbino "Woven Trees".

Spanning four floors, the exhibition brings together more than 70 artists and designers, each given a single hospital room and one directive: create an environment around a human emotion. The result is 80 fully realized spaces exploring states such as love, fear, hope, anger, and joy. Visitors move through the building room by room, stepping into distinct emotional worlds that range from intimate to expansive, surreal to unexpectedly playful.
                                                                   

Artist Javiera Estrada "Twister Game".

Patient rooms, operating areas, corridors, and nurses’ stations remain intact, carrying the memory of what the space once was. Long considered one of the first hospitals in Los Angeles, St. Vincent Medical Center is currently transitioning into the St. Vincent Behavioral Health Campus.
                                                                    

Artist Melan Allen "eggsibition"

 The exhibition takes place during this shift, occupying the space between what the building was and what it is becoming, adding immediacy and real-world context to an exhibition centered on how we feel, connect, and process through art.
                                                               

Artist Lisa Wand (botanicals).

At a moment when Los Angeles is charged with energy and change, Hospital of Emotions offers something immediate and shared—a place to experience a full spectrum of feeling through art. Designed for a broad audience, the exhibition balances immersive environments with moments of lightness, curiosity, and reflection.
                                                                    

Artist Jeremy Wojchihosky "arms in ceiling"

Select rooms are developed in collaboration with nonprofit partners, including The People Concern and USAVEST, organizations working across mental health, veteran services, and housing insecurity. These partnerships ground the exhibition in lived experience and extend the dialogue beyond the traditional gallery model.
                                                               

Artist Jaaea Sachs.

                                        

Participating Artists:
Mônica Lóss, Lenny Gerard, David Otis Johnson, Anna Matsumoto, Bhumikorn Kongtaveelert, Javiera Estrada, Heather Bellino, Evan Wood, Lisa Waud, Jonathan Elkies, Kunna Haan, Rebecca Ann Carver, Olivia Barrionuevo-Minkin, Allison Reber, Yaara Sachs, Nathalie Auzepy, Dioz, Margüi, Madeline Verbica, DAK (David A. Knudsen), Caratoes, Dr. Maryam Trebeau, Kim Farbota, Pablo Thomas, Heriberto Gomes, Tommii Limx, Tara Rey, Michael Keppler, Alex Kemp, Alon Cohen Raz, Miran Nudell, Amit Greenberg, NYCHOS, Gil Hayun, Oshri Elmorich, Krisia “Kiki” Powell, Mariell Guzman, John F. Malta, Jeremy Wojchihosky, Nellie Xie, Moran Sanderovich, Natalia Pavlova, Napo, KASEMONSTER, Corrie Sullivan, It’s A Living, Greg Corbino, Dmitry Kemell, Michelle Lougee, Christoph Florin, Tyler Goldfarb, Mark Girgis, Ginger Pearson, Scene Shift Collective, Adam Kyron Murillo, Leslie K. Monroy, Ray Karam, Sayoko Osada, Santa Gross, Elif Sezgin, Kara Greenwell, Sandra Monty, Tim Schwartz, Grisha Stepanyan, Kamil Czapiga, Rose Zhang, Paal Anand, Dongpu Ling, Mads Christensen, Emily Strange, Almog, Jaaea Sachs.

Exhibition Details:

Opening Date, May 27, 2026

Closing Date, July 31, 2026

Location: 2131 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

Tickets: www.hospitalofemotions.com

Instagram: @hospital.of.emotions
 

House of Art and Dreams

House of Art and Dreams is a curatorial company specializing in site-specific pop-up exhibitions within buildings undergoing transformation. The team brings a cross-disciplinary approach to large-scale cultural production, merging art, design, and architecture to create immersive, site-specific experiences that expand how audiences engage with contemporary art. https://www.houseofartanddreams.com/
 

ROYVA Group

ROYVA Group is a Los Angeles–based hospitality and design studio specializing in the transformation of overlooked properties into immersive, experiential destinations. Founded in 2019, the company develops and operates concept-driven spaces that merge architecture, atmosphere, and community-centered experiences. https://www.royva.com
 

 St. Vincent Behavioral Health Campus

The St. Vincent Behavioral Health Campus marks the next chapter of one of Los Angeles’ most historic medical sites. Formerly St. Vincent Medical Center, it is being reimagined as a dedicated behavioral health facility centered on mental health, recovery, and community care. This transformation reflects a broader shift toward accessibility, dignity, and long-term support, with Hospital of Emotions underscoring the connection between environment, emotion, and lived experience. https://www.svbhc.org/