The catalogue accompanying the exhibition Marilyn Monroe. I Feel I Know Her, but Sometimes My Arms Bend Back is now available.

Published alongside the exhibition presented at Krupa Art Foundation, the book explores how an icon is constructed from photographs, memories, and pop-cultural imagery—and what happens to the person hidden beneath that surface. Moving beyond the familiar narrative of a Hollywood star, the publication examines Marilyn Monroe as a figure situated at the intersection of myth, history, and contemporary visual culture.

Across 192 pages, readers will find reproductions of photographs from the Milton H. Greene Archive, documentation of works by contemporary artists featured in the exhibition, and essays by Natalia Barczyńska, Monika Łuszpak-Skiba, Katarzyna Młyńczak-Sachs, and Łukasz Rusznica. The publication addresses themes of image-making, fame, femininity, memory, and the social mechanisms through which images are created, circulated, and consumed.

The catalogue also includes texts dedicated to the remarkable history of the Milton H. Greene Archive, whose journey stretches from New York and Hollywood to Wrocław. Additional essays reflect on contemporary artistic practices, celebrity culture, and inspirations drawn from the work of David Lynch.

More than a record of the exhibition, the publication stands as an independent volume for readers interested in photography, cultural history, contemporary art, and the enduring phenomenon of Marilyn Monroe. It offers an opportunity to revisit the works presented in the exhibition, discover their broader context, and encounter this cultural icon through a new, multidimensional perspective.

Purchase the Catalogue

The catalogue is available at the Krupa Art Foundation Art Shop and online:

Special launch price: 89 PLN until 30 September 2026.

Publication Details

• Pages: 192
• Binding: Hardcover
• Dimensions: 170 × 240 mm
• Languages: Polish and English
• Publisher: Krupa Art Foundation, Wrocław, 2026

Credits

Texts: Natalia Barczyńska, Monika Łuszpak-Skiba, Katarzyna Młyńczak-Sachs, Łukasz Rusznica

Graphic Design and Layout: Joanna Jopkiewicz (Grupa Projektor)

Managing Editor: Beata Bartecka

Translation: Karol Waniak

Proofreading: Marcin Grabski

Image Preparation for Print: Krzysztof Krzysztofia

Photography: Milton H. Greene (except pp. 146–147 and 184–185 by Sam Shaw)

Exhibition Documentation: Alicja Kielan

Performance Documentation: Krzysztof Małecki

Artists: BORA, Arvida Byström, Eli Cortiñas, Ana Viktoria Dzinic, Alison Jackson, Martina Menegon, Paulina Pawłowska, Erin Robinson, Martha Rosler, Gregor Różański, Bert Stern, Łukasz Stokłosa

The exhibition was organised by Krupa Art Foundation in collaboration with Hala Stulecia, owner of a significant part of the Milton H. Greene Archive collection.