Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria pays tribute to one of the most iconic figures of the twentieth century: Marilyn Monroe. Born on 1st June 1926 - the centenary of her birth this year - the hotel honors her with an exhibition, running from 1st June through September 2026.
Curated by Deodato Arte, the exhibition project unfolds throughout the hotel’s spaces as an immersive journey exploring different artistic languages and sensibilities, capturing the complexity of Marilyn Monroe’s figure between public image and private dimension, myth and identity.
Perched atop the cliffs of Sorrento and overlooking the Gulf of Naples, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria has represented an iconic landmark of Italian hospitality for more than a century. Founded in 1834 by the Fiorentino family, who still manage it today, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria has preserved the charm of its history, featuring period architecture, frescoed ceilings, historic furnishings, and Mediterranean gardens overlooking the sea.
Over the years, it has welcomed leading figures of European culture, from Richard Wagner to Oscar Wilde, helping to shape an imagination closely associated with the grand tradition of international holidaymaking.
Linked to this heritage of stories, an episode passed down over time, further strengthening the connection between the hotel and Marilyn Monroe. A feature by Guido Muscarà in Il Barman published in 1988, the author remembers the diva’s stay in Sorrento in the late 1950s and an describes the encounter with a young member of the hotel staff.
The story captures an intimate and unexpected moment: far removed from the image constructed by cinema, Marilyn Monroe appears curious, attentive, and profoundly human. A brief conversation, a handshake, and her unmistakable smile become fragments of memory capable of conveying a presence that is at once authentic, fragile, and radiant.
It is precisely from this tension between myth and reality that the exhibition takes shape.
The exhibition path brings together a selection of works dedicated to the iconography of Marilyn Monroe, exploring the languages of Pop Art and contemporary art. At the heart of the exhibition is the work of Andy Warhol, who transformed the actress’s face into a global icon, alongside works by Mimmo Rotella, Mr. Brainwash, Mr. Savethewall, and Giuliano Grittini.
Silkscreens, décollages, and unique works create a layered narrative exploring the relationship between image and identity, between media construction and the personal dimension. The artworks reflect on the very concept of celebrity and its transformation into a cultural symbol, highlighting how Marilyn Monroe continues to live on in the contemporary imagination.
Spread throughout the spaces of Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria — among historic lounges, sea-view terraces, and areas immersed in Mediterranean gardens — the exhibition takes shape as a site-specific journey in which each artwork engages in dialogue with its surroundings, enhancing the relationship between art and place.
Within this setting, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is not merely a backdrop, but an integral part of the narrative itself: a place where myth is reflected, transformed, and continues to live on.
EXHIBITION INFO
Dates: 1 June 2026 – September 2027 Location: Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento Curated by: Deodato Arte
