Bert Stern, a luminary in American photography, left an indelible mark through his iconic portrayal of Marilyn Monroe. His lens captured Monroe's essence in a historic photoshoot mere weeks before her untimely passing, immortalized in the photobook "Marilyn Monroe: The Complete Last Sitting," unveiled in 1982. Born in Brooklyn, NY, on October 3, 1929, Stern's love affair with photography blossomed in his youth, honing his craft through self-teaching.
Throughout his illustrious career, Stern reshaped the realms of fashion and advertising photography. He revolutionized the genre by creating evocative, standalone images that transcended the confines of serving mere textual context. Alongside photography luminaries like Richard Avedon, Mark Shaw, and Irving Penn, Stern pioneered a confrontational, avant-garde style that transformed the landscape of visual storytelling.
His departure at the age of 83 on June 26, 2013, in New York City marked the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy etched in iconic imagery. Stern's profound impact reverberated through notable exhibitions, including "I Wanna Be Loved By You: Photographs of Marilyn Monroe" at the Brooklyn Museum of Art and "The Last Sitting" showcased at the Musée Maillol in Paris, affirming his enduring influence on the world of photography and cultural iconography.