Arts for Transit and Urban Design

42nd Street-6th Avenue

Sam Shaw

Marilyn in New York

A new photography installation at two locations on 42nd Street contains rarely seen photographs and one famous image of Marilyn Monroe in New York City taken by photographer and filmmaker Sam Shaw.

The image of Marilyn Monroe stepping over a subway sidewalk grate as a gust of wind sends her skirt twirling is the embodiment of the words “iconic image”. The photo was shot on Lexington Avenue in 1954 by Sam Shaw who had an early and long-time association with Marilyn. Later, in 1957, he spent a day with Marilyn wandering Manhattan, taking photos in Central Park – at a bench and rowing a boat, window shopping along Fifth Avenue, and perched above the FDR Drive. Both the famous image and lesser known ones are on view, in two locations. Eight photographs can be seen from the day-long photo shoot in the 42nd Street-Bryant Park B, D, F station and the supersized subway grate photograph is displayed outside of the subway entrance at Times Square, 42nd Street and Broadway. Together, the installation offers New Yorkers a view of rarely seen photographs of the actress in unguarded, playful poses. The pairing of Hollywood icon with the teeming crowds at Times Square and the 42nd Street-Bryant Park station introduces Marilyn to new generations of New Yorkers and visitors from around the globe.

The exhibit pays tribute to Marilyn Monroe on the 50th year anniversary of her death and is part of the Sam Shaw centennial. Shaw, a lifelong New Yorker, was a photojournalist in the 1940's, and by the 1950's his photographs appeared frequently on the cover of LIFE, Look and other major publications. He photographed films and stars and produced many of John Cassavetes' groundbreaking independent films, including the award-winning Gloria, Opening Night, and A Woman Under the Influence. Today, Sam Shaw's work is preserved and promoted by the Shaw Family Archives.

MTA Arts for Transit and Urban Design worked closely with sponsor Duggal Visual Solutions, to print the photographs in the large format transparencies. Marilyn in New York will be on view for one year.