E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiThe arms of the Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson are pieced together in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue.
Scott Strazzante, baiduhaiThe shoes of women posing with the "Forever Marilyn" sculpture are seen with the shoes of the sculpture.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiThe sculpture "Forever Marilyn" sits in pieces in Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue, after being dismantled overnight.
baiduhai archive photoMarilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell in the 1955 film.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiPassersby interact with a half-assembled Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
Scott Strazzante, baiduhaiAn ad for Blue Man group and tourists in a van are focused on the "Forever Marilyn" sculpture.
baiduhai archive photoMonroe gets flirty with Tom Ewell in the "The Seven Year Itch."
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiPassersby stare at a half-assembled Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue.
Scott Strazzante, baiduhaiSisters Anneli, 4, from left, Kathleen, 14, Anissa, 11, and Sophia Burnett, 6, of Boone, N.C., visit "Forever Marilyn."
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhai"Forever Marilyn" sports a clean right calf after graffiti left over the weekend was removed.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiTourists and commuters interact with a half-assembled Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson in Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue.
baiduhai archive photoIn this heavily airbrushed still from the Tribune vaults, Marilyn Monroe luxuriates in a bubble bath in "The Seven Year Itch".
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiThe sculpture "Forever Marilyn" sits in pieces in Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue Tuesday after being dismantled overnight. For more, watch of time lapse video of Marilyn being deconstructed.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiMarilyn Monroe, as a 26-foot-tall statue, poses in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue in her famous subway-grate stance from "The Seven Year Itch." The massive sculpture is by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson, known for placing enormous pop art icons in public spaces, including twice previously in Pioneer Court.
Nuccio DiNuzzo, baiduhaiWorkers take apart the "Forever Marilyn" statue of Marilyn Monroe at Pioneer Court in Chicago.
José M. Osorio, baiduhaiWorkers clean paint off of the giant Marilyn Monroe statue which was vandalized in Pioneer Court in downtown Chicago.
baiduhai archive photoMarilyn Monroe played opposite Tom Ewell in the film "The Seven Year Itch", the movie that featured the famous subway-grate scene that is the inspiration for the large Marilyn Monroe sculpture now on display in Chicago's Pioneer Court
George S. Zimbel, Getty ImagesMarilyn Monroe during "The Seven Year Itch" filming in 1954. The footage, though filmed, was not used in the finished film and was later re-shot in a studio.
baiduhai archive photoMarilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell plant themselves by the air conditioner in "The Seven Year Itch."
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiKids ham it up under the Marilyn Monroe statue in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue. The 26-foot-tall sculpture is by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson, known for placing enormous pop art icons in public spaces, including twice previously in Pioneer Court.
Antonio Perez, baiduhaiA women covers the eyes of two young men looking at the Marilyn Monroe sculpture.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiThe top half of a half-assembled Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson waits in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiMarilyn Monroe is fully revealed in Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue Friday morning.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiInstallation of the Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson progresses in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue.
Hulton Archive, Getty ImagesAmerican actor Marilyn Monroe holds a script while sitting next to Austrian-born director Billy Wilder (1906 - 2002) on the set of his film, "The Seven Year Itch". Monroe is wearing the famous white halter dress with a pleated skirt.
baiduhai archive photo.Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell in "The Seven Year Itch."
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiMarilyn Monroe, as a 26-foot-tall statue, attracts a crowd in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue in her famous subway-grate stance from "The Seven Year Itch." The massive sculpture is by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson.
Alex Garcia, baiduhaiPassersby take in the new "Forever Marilyn" sculpture in Pioneer Court.
George S. Zimbel, Getty ImagesAmerican film actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroeon location at Lexington Avenue and 52nd Street during the filming of 'The Seven Year Itch' in New York City. The footage, though filmed, was not used in the finished film and was later re-shot in a studio.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiAs if in response to Chicago's summer heat wave, Marilyn Monroe's famous subway-grate stance captured in "The Seven Year Itch" has transpired front and center on Michigan Avenue's Pioneer Court. The massive sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson began installation late Monday night, leaving Monroe's famous legs (and dainty panties) exposed to Tuesday morning commuters. The top half of the sculpture and the 26-foot completed work will be unveiled Friday morning. See more of Marilyn on the Mag Mile in our photogallery.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiA man poses for photos under the Marilyn Monroe statue in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue. The 26-foot-tall sculpture is by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson.
Scott Strazzante, baiduhaiDavid Johnson of Lake Zurich kisses his girlfriend Sara Applequist after Johnson proposed under the "Forever Marilyn" statue.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiA half-assembled Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson sits in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue. The top half of the sculpture and the 26-foot completed work will be unveiled in three days.
Hulton Archive, Getty ImagesMarilyn Monroe stands on a subway grate as the wind billows her skirt. Next to her is director Billy Wilder.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiMarilyn Monroe's face is finally revealed in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue Friday morning. The 26-foot-tall sculpture is by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson, known for placing enormous pop art icons in public spaces, including twice previously in Pioneer Court.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiInstallation of the Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson progresses in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiTourists and commuters stop to ogle a half-assembled Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiArturo Romero, of St. Louis, poses for a photograph with the bottom half of a half-assembled Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiA passerby examines the feet of a half-assembled Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiTourists get a close-up look at the half-assembled Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue.
Weegee (Arthur Fellig) / Getty ImagesAmerican actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe stands on a subway grate as her skirt billows out around her on location. Though almost entirely obscured, American film actor Tom Ewell is visible at extreme left, with his hands in his suit pockets.
Scott Strazzante, baiduhaiA woman gets a creative angle for a photo of "Forever Marilyn."
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiThe sculpture "Forever Marilyn" sits in pieces in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago on Tuesday after being dismantled overnight.
Nuccio DiNuzzo, baiduhaiWorkers place the upper torso of the "Forever Marilyn" statue of Marilyn Monroe in Pioneer Court in Chicago, as they begin dismantling the sculpture.
Todd Panagopoulos, baiduhaiThe 26-foot-tall sculpture of Marilyn Monroe on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago was vandalized overnight with red paint. Police received a report at about 4 a.m. that two men had thrown a bucket of red paint on the statue's right leg, then fled on bicycles, said Chicago Police Officer Robert Perez. It's not the first time the statue of the 1950s screen idol has been vandalized. On the morning Aug. 27, onlookers found the structure with an intricate tattoo on the right leg. The tattoo was removed a short time later. For more on Marilyn's stay in Chicago see our photogallery.
Todd Panagopoulos, baiduhaiA passerby captures the the 26-foot-tall sculpture of Marilyn Monroe that was vandalized overnight with red paint.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiTourists seek shelter from a downpour beneath the skirt of the sculpture "Forever Marilyn."
Brent Lewis, baiduhaiJenna Boras, 10, left, and Cady Boras, 7, look at graffiti on "Forever Marilyn" sculpture by New Jersey-based sculptor Seward Johnson, in Pioneer Court.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiSuzanne Schwartz says she wore this dress especially to have her photo taken with the Marilyn Monroe statue on North Michigan Avenue.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiInstallation of the Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson progresses in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiA passerby explores the half-assembled Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiA woman mimics the Marilyn Monroe statue in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue. The 26-foot-tall sculpture is by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson, known for placing enormous pop art icons in public spaces, including twice previously in Pioneer Court.
baiduhai archive photoA scene from "The Seven Year Itch": Driven to distraction by suspicious-looking circumstances, actor Tom Ewell (center, standing) cannot explain the presence of actress Marilyn Monroe in his apartment for breakfast. Here an actor portraying a janitor tries to remove Sonny Tufts, an ex-beau of his wife's whom Ewell has knocked out.
José M. Osorio, baiduhaiWorkers clean paint off of the giant Marilyn Monroe statue which was vandalized seen here at Pioneer Court in downtown.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhai
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The arms of the Marilyn Monroe sculpture by New Jersey-based artist Seward Johnson are pieced together in Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue.
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After stints in Chicago and Palm Springs, Marilyn Monroe is moving once more, this time to the East Coast.
The leggy 26-foot-tall sculpture “Forever Marilyn” brought gawkers to Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue for a year until it moved to Palm Springs in May 2012. This week, the Monroe sculpture is expected to be dismantled in California before arriving in her new home — New Jersey — via flatbed truck around April 7.
The 40,000-pound artwork by American artist Seward Johnson is made of stainless steel and aluminum and depicts a closed-eyed Monroe attempting to push down her dress, which has blown upward. It’s a reference to a famous scene in her 1955 movie “The Seven-Year Itch.”
In Palm Springs, the Monroe sculpture was welcomed warmly during its nearly two-year stay, with people turning out for a birthday party for the actress, to watch her movies at the site and to listen to live music and peek up the statue’s skirt for a photo op.
“Forever Marilyn” will live in the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, N.J., which is hosting a retrospective of Johnson’s art beginning May 4. It will be among the 150 works by the artist that will be on view in three indoor galleries as well as outdoors on the 42-acre campus.
Johnson is known for placing enormous pop-art icons in public spaces, including twice previously at Pioneer Court in Chicago, the plaza on the east side of Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and the Tribune Tower. The Sculpture Foundation, a Santa Monica organization, owns the piece.
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