"Picturing Marilyn," which opened on Thursday at the Milk Gallery in New York, runs through the weekend. It spans Monroe's life in front of the camera lens, starting with her teenage years when she was photographed on the beach by Andre De Dienes, according to its organizers.

It is timed to coincide with the release later this month of the film "My Week with Marilyn," which stars Michelle Williams as Monroe.

"She was innocent, intelligent and sexual -- what a combination. She was an alchemist's dream and that is why the flame is eternal," said Harvey Weinstein, the producer of the film.

The exhibit is made up of more than 60 images by some of the most famous photographers who shot Monroe, including "Discovery Series" by Bernard of Hollywood, who helped Monroe get her first acting role, and her photo shoot with Philippe Halsman for the Life magazine cover when she was 26 years old.

It was launched with a gala evening hosted by co-organizer Bert Stern, actress Celeste Holm, who co-starred with Monroe in "All About Eve," and Joan Copeland, the sister of playwright Arthur Miller to whom Monroe was married.

Stern's photograph of Monroe in a black Dior dress shot for Vogue magazine is the centerpiece of the show. He also shot Monroe's final portraits, a series known as "The Last Sitting," in 1962.

In total Stern shot more than 2,500 images of Monroe, but has only ever released a few for public viewing.

Among other previously unseen images are a De Dienes shot taken when Monroe was 23 in a rare moment when she was photographed without makeup. Another picture from 1954, by Bruno Bernard, shows Monroe casually stretched out across rows of movie theater seats and dressed in head-to-toe white. AGENCIES