Palm Springs, CA

Palm Springs’ “Forever Marilyn” sculpture, a towering 26-foot tribute to Marilyn Monroe, began its relocation this week, marking the end of a long-standing debate about its place in Palm Springs. Originally placed on Museum Way, the statue will now find a permanent home in Downtown Park, just north of its current location. The decision to move the statue comes after a compromise agreement between the Committee to Relocate Marilyn (CReMa) and PS Resorts, the statue’s owners, reached last summer.

The sculpture’s original location sparked passionate debate within the community. While some celebrated its connection to Palm Springs’ Hollywood legacy, others criticized its placement near the Palm Springs Art Museum, deeming it inappropriate and even sexist.

Created by American artist Seward Johnson, Forever Marilyn captures the famous pose from Monroe’s iconic “Seven Year Itch” photograph by Bernard of Hollywood. Weighing 34,300 pounds, the statue is a striking example of realism, with detailed layers of hues and glossy finishes on her lips, toe nails, and earrings. Part of Johnson’s Icons Revisited series, it explores how larger-than-life figures transcend their time, embodying something greater and metaphoric.

This relocation signals a fresh start for the sculpture, marking the end of a contentious chapter in its history and setting the stage for Marilyn Monroe’s likeness to continue captivating visitors in its new, carefully selected spot. The relocation process began on Sunday and will be completed by Friday, February 28.