Douglas Kirkland

Douglas Kirkland operated at the cutting edge of fashion, photojournalism and portraiture, working for the world’s most reputable magazines, for more than 50 years. As a young photographer in 1961 he was assigned to shoot Marilyn Monroe, and during several hours in a closed studio one night, captured a stunning portfolio of alluringly intimate images that survive to this day as a testament to her beauty and vulnerability.

Kirkland was born in Toronto, Canada. He joined Look magazine in his early twenties, and later Life magazine. During the golden age of 60’s/70’s photojournalism, his assignments ranged from The Trans Siberian Railway to Japan, from fashion to film. He photographed the legendary Coco Chanel at work, and the stars of over one hundred motion pictures. From The Sound of Music to Titanic and The Great Gatsby, his lens explored the universe of fame.

Kirkland’s work resides in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian, the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Houston Center for Photography, and the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles. He was the recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from numerous bodies, including the highly valued Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement. He passed away in October of 2022.