If you need just one reason to visit Palm Desert, it’s not any of its 30 golf courses (!) or its own version of Rodeo Drive (as if), but Melissa Morgan’s Fine Art Gallery.  Since 2002, it has made a remarkable impact on artists and collectors alike, and every now and then they put on an exceptional exhibition that goes beyond their already excellent reputation, which makes the trek across Southern California so worth it.

Their next exhibition is a prime example, featuring the work of award-winning photographer Lawrence Schiller, who captured the nation’s political and cultural front lines during the transformative 1960s. His stunning portfolio features legendary moments, including Paul Newman and Robert Redford playing ping-pong, and a haunting image of Lee Harvey Oswald after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He documented the powerful advocacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, alongside the private world of LSD experimentation.

Schiller’s intimate access to Marilyn Monroe at the height—and twilight—of her career is unparalleled. Through his lens, Marilyn is not only a screen legend, but a complex, vulnerable, and unforgettable woman. This exhibition marks her 100th Birthday and invites viewers to experience her through a uniquely honest and powerful visual narrative. It features a rare and deeply personal collection of photographs taken by Schiller in the final year of Monroe’s life, from candid behind-the-scenes moments to iconic imagery captured on the set of Something’s Got to Give, this exhibition offers an extraordinary and humanizing portrait of a woman whose mystique continues to captivate the world.

Melissa Morgan writes: With a masterful eye for composition and timing, Schiller’s photographs transcend celebrity portraiture. They document an era—revealing the charisma, confidence, and quiet intensity of some of Hollywood’s most enduring icons. Each image is both a cultural artifact and a powerful work of art, offering collectors the opportunity to own a piece of cinematic history.

Schiller’s black-and-white photographs in the exhibit capture legendary figures such as Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Clint Eastwood with a rare intimacy and authenticity that only comes from being present in the moment.