Forever Marilyn in Palm Springs: Public Art, Controversy and a New Home
She’s back — although she’s moved a little since her celebrated return.
Standing 26 feet tall in her famous billowing white dress, Forever Marilyn has become one of the most recognizable pieces of public art in Palm Springs.
The larger-than-life sculpture depicts Marilyn Monroe in the iconic subway-grate scene from the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. Created by artist Seward Johnson in 2011, the sculpture first appeared in Palm Springs in 2012 and remained here for nearly two years before leaving the desert.
In 2021, Marilyn returned to Palm Springs, this time taking center stage on Museum Way near the Palm Springs Art Museum.
And that location soon became almost as famous as Marilyn herself.
The Controversy Over Forever Marilyn
While visitors lined up to take photos with Marilyn, not everyone was happy with where she was standing.
The sculpture’s placement on Museum Way sparked a years-long debate over public art, city planning and the visual approach to the Palm Springs Art Museum.
Opponents argued that the sculpture and closure of Museum Way obstructed an important view corridor leading from Palm Canyon Drive to the museum. Others objected to the sculpture itself and its prominent position in front of one of the city’s most significant cultural institutions.
The disagreement eventually led to a lawsuit filed against the City of Palm Springs by the Committee to Relocate Marilyn.
In 2024, the city announced that an agreement had been reached to settle the dispute. The solution was surprisingly simple: Marilyn would stay downtown, but she would move into the adjacent Downtown Park.
The relocation was completed in early 2025.
The new location keeps Forever Marilyn within the heart of downtown and close to the Palm Springs Art Museum while reopening the visual corridor toward the museum.
So Marilyn hasn’t left Palm Springs. She’s simply changed addresses.
Public Art Is Part of the Palm Springs Landscape
Forever Marilyn may attract some of the biggest crowds — and perhaps the strongest opinions — but she is only one part of Palm Springs’ extensive collection of public art.
Throughout downtown and the surrounding city, sculptures, murals and installations turn sidewalks, parks and unexpected corners into outdoor galleries.
Among them is Isabelle, the striking stainless-steel sculpture by artist Julian Voss-Andreae near the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs. Depending on where you stand, the human figure seems to appear and disappear before your eyes.
Palm Springs has embraced the idea that art doesn’t have to live inside a museum.
Make a Day of Exploring Palm Springs Public Art
With public art installations throughout Palm Springs, exploring them can become its own kind of treasure hunt.
Spend a morning walking downtown, discover a sculpture you weren’t expecting, visit the Palm Springs Art Museum and stop for lunch or shopping along Palm Canyon Drive.
That’s part of what makes Palm Springs interesting. Architecture, art, history and a little eccentricity all live side by side.
And few pieces capture that personality quite like Forever Marilyn.
Love her or question her, she’s certainly given Palm Springs something to talk about.
Thinking About Living in Palm Springs?
Palm Springs is much more than a collection of beautiful homes. Its architecture, neighborhoods, restaurants, art and distinctive desert lifestyle are all part of the experience of living here.
If you’re considering a home in Palm Springs, explore homes for sale in Palm Springs and discover the neighborhoods and properties that make this one of the Coachella Valley’s most distinctive communities.
With more than 80 different locations around Palm Springs, you can make a fun day of treasure hunting to find all of the great Art in Public Places in and around Palm Springs.
Shopping for a home in the Palm Springs area? we have several beautiful homes in and around Palm Springs we know you’re going to love!
