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Photographic exhibition "Frida Kahlo e Marilyn Monroe - Vite Parallele" in Fermo, Italy
28 June 2026 | 02 November 2026Told through the lenses of the greatest photographers of their time, Frida Kahlo and Marilyn Monroe emerge in this exhibition as complex symbols of femininity.
The exhibition "Frida Kahlo and Marilyn Monroe - Parallel Lives" explores the similarities and differences between these two extraordinary women through over 100 photographs and works of art, highlighting their struggles, passions and creations. Immortalised by great photographers of the time such as Nickolas Muray and Sam Shaw, the exhibition offers an exciting journey through the lives of two women who broke the mould and left an indelible mark on history: it starts with images of both as children and continues on a path of growth and self-awareness, where we can appreciate the profound change not only in their appearance but also in their emotions.
Linked by seemingly different destinies, they discover, instead, profound similarities marked by tormented loves, by a deep desire to become mothers that life denied them, and by a profound political commitment that saw them always at the forefront in defending their ideals. Although Frida and Marilyn were almost contemporaries and lived in different countries, their lives intersected thanks to their friendship and shared romantic passion for photographer Nickolas Muray, who had a long relationship with Frida and a secret relationship with Marilyn until his death, which was revealed when Muray's wife found a photograph with a passionate dedication.
In addition to Nickolas Muray's photographs, the exhibition will feature shots by Guillermo Kahlo, Imogen Cunningham, Lucienne Bloch, Sam Sahw, and Ed Feingersh, who use their images to tell us about the public and private lives of Frida and Marilyn, their relationships with important and influential personalities, such as Diego Rivera, a well-known and unrepentant womaniser for Frida, and Joe Di Maggio or Arthur Miller, but above all John Fitzgerald Kennedy for Marilyn.
Set photos depicting Marilyn with some of her co-stars, such as Laurence Olivier, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, but also Groucho Marx and Cary Grant, are displayed alongside personalities close to Frida, who are represented in the snapshots on display to convey the richness of their earthly journeys.
A tribute to two women who embodied creativity, passion and determination, and who continue to inspire generations of artists, filmmakers and art and cinema enthusiasts.
In addition to the photographs dedicated to Frida and Marilyn, the exhibition also features works by great artists for whom they were and continue to be undisputed muses, such as Mimmo Rotella, Marco Lodola, Marco Nereo Rotelli and the Chinese artist Zhang Hongmei, who dedicated several portraits to Frida, alongside works by Xu De Qi and Omar Ronda.
Curated by Carolina Dema, Tanino Bonifacio and Alberto Rossetti.
At Palazzo dei Priori, Piazza del Popolo - Fermo (FM).
Logistic, info about tickets and other useful info at the link below.
