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Arts & Culture
June 6, 2026
Marilyn Monroe’s Face Kept Changing — But the Camera Always Loved Her

The National Portrait Gallery’s Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait, supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, examines the evolution and endurance of Monroe’s image across photography, film, and art. Organized around the photographers who shaped her public presence, the exhibition traces her transformation from Norma Jeane to one of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century. Works by Philippe Halsman, Eve Arnold, André de Dienes, Sam Shaw, Alfred Eisenstaedt, and others reveal how different collaborators captured Monroe’s vulnerability, intelligence, glamour, and self-awareness. The exhibition also considers Monroe’s own role in shaping her image, including her careful selection and editing of photographs. Later works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Pauline Boty, Marlene Dumas, and Peter Blake show how Monroe’s image continued to acquire meaning after her death.

Blavatnik Awards
June 6, 2026
Bucking Boycotts, Prizewinning Israeli Astrophysicist Finds ‘Zen-like’ Perspective in Space

Astrophysicist Paz Beniamini, an associate professor of physics at the Open University of Israel, has been named a 2026 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel Laureate in Physical Sciences & Engineering. Beniamini, who heads the university’s Astrophysics Research Center, was recognized for research into some of the universe’s most energetic phenomena, including fast radio bursts, gamma-ray bursts, and highly magnetized neutron stars. His work explores extreme environments where particles move at extraordinary speeds and magnetic fields far exceed those found on Earth. The recognition marks the first Blavatnik Award for the Open University of Israel, highlighting the strength of its growing research community and astrophysics program. The article also emphasizes Beniamini’s commitment to international scientific collaboration and to education as a foundation for future discovery. Through the Awards, the Blavatnik Family Foundation helps recognize exceptional early-career scientists whose research expands understanding of the natural world and inspires the next generation.

Higher Education
June 5, 2026
Former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Visits Oxford University

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government for a discussion on the future of democracy in a technology-driven world. The visit included a conversation with Dean Ngaire Woods and the School’s Master of Public Policy class, as well as a meeting with Canadian students. Trudeau’s engagement offered students the opportunity to hear from a former head of government on the evolving challenges facing democratic institutions, public leadership, and governance. The discussion reflected the Blavatnik School’s role as a forum for rigorous exchange among policymakers, scholars, and emerging public leaders.

Arts & Culture
June 3, 2026
This Joyful Marilyn Monroe Exhibition Will Melt Your Heart

The National Portrait Gallery’s Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait, supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, presents a vivid centenary reassessment of Monroe through the photographers and artists who shaped her public image. The exhibition foregrounds photography as a powerful means of understanding Monroe’s presence, from early images of Norma Jeane by André de Dienes to later portraits by Philippe Halsman, Eve Arnold, Cecil Beaton, Sam Shaw, and others. Rather than centering the familiar tragedy of Monroe’s final years, the show emphasizes her vitality, intelligence, and expressive range, including images that capture her playfulness, poise, and introspection. It also places celebrated photographs alongside paintings and works made after her death, inviting reflection on the difference between Monroe as a living collaborator and Monroe as a cultural symbol. Film excerpts and portraits together highlight the artistry and complexity behind one of the most enduring figures in modern visual culture. The Foundation’s support helps make this thoughtful exhibition accessible to broad audiences, encouraging renewed engagement with portraiture, cinema, and the construction of public identity.

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The Blavatnik Archive is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to preserving and disseminating materials that contribute to the study of 20th-century Jewish and world history, with a special emphasis on World War I, World War II, and Soviet Russia.

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