Douglas Kirkland

Douglas Kirkland was a trailblazer in fashion, photojournalism, and portrait photography, working for top-tier magazines for over 50 years. In 1961, he captured a stunning portfolio of intimate images of Marilyn Monroe, showcasing her beauty and vulnerability.

Born in Toronto, Canada, Kirkland joined Look magazine in his early twenties and later Life magazine. His assignments during the golden age of 60s/70s photojournalism ranged from the Trans-Siberian Railway to Japan, fashion to film. He photographed Coco Chanel at work and stars from over 100 motion pictures, including The Sound of Music, Titanic, and The Great Gatsby.

Kirkland’s work is part of the permanent collections at the Smithsonian, National Portrait Gallery in London, Houston Center for Photography, and Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles. He received numerous Lifetime Achievement Awards, including the esteemed Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement. He passed away in October 2022.