Marilyn Monroe is Smiling on West Houston Street

NEW YORK—Marilyn Monroe seems to be everywhere. One of her Warhol portraits is on view at the Smithsonian’s National Gallery of art. On Sunday, Michelle Williams won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her portrayal of Monroe in the film “My Week with Marilyn.” And there have been Monroe sightings on West Houston Street.

Monroe’s fading image smiles up from the sidewalk at passersby. The portrait is by Hani Shihada who has been drawing on sidewalks since 1984. He completed the Marilyn portrait at the end of July 2011.

As I stopped to take a look at the pastel image, someone from the neighborhood walked by and said, “You should have seen it when it was first finished. Real nice.”

Photos by Arts Observer


A fading Marilyn Monroe on West Houston Street near West Broadway. (Image at top of page was enhanced using Photoshop.)

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