Marilyn and I

In 2010, Marilyn Monroe collector and historian Scott Fortner was showcased in a feature photography project, “Marilyn & I,” shot by French photographer Yury Toroptsov.  The photos were exhibited in Paris in January, 2012.  Scott was photographed with items from his collection, along with a Marilyn Monroe owned dress, which was the subject of this project.

About the Project:  Toroptsov traveled the globe, specifically to meet with and interview fans of Marilyn Monroe, and take their photograph with the dress. The project culminated with a traveling photography exhibit, and a coffee table book comprising photos taken by Toroptsov of fans with Marilyn’s dress.

How It All Began: A friend of Toroptsov’s bought at an auction and lent to him an authentic summer dress from Marilyn’s personal wardrobe. The dress with a strong evocative power became an essential element of his artistic project. With the dress folded in his photographer’s backpack he traveled from France where he lives to the US to meet men and women of all ages and all social categories at their homes and work places to record their stories. He invited subjects to reflect on what Marilyn Monroe represented for them while he took their photos. Toroptsov amassed a large collection of images, with models including famous and anonymous fans of Marilyn Monroe.