Lawrence Schiller (American, b.1936)

Who is photographer Lawrence Schiller?

Lawrence Schiller is a photojournalist, director, and screenwriter who has published 17 books since 1958. He has also directed seven films, several miniseries, and many true crime stories. A true autodidact in several arenas, Schiller’s talents have also led him to consult for several political campaigns, the Taschen Publishing company, and even become an on-screen analyst for the NBC news broadcast. For two years (2005-2007) he built an impressive collection of Chinese contemporary art, amassing over 80 paintings and photographs during that time. Though relatively late in life, he began to exhibit his own photographs in 2007. He is best known for his photographs of Marilyn Monroe, starting with her 1960 movie, Let’s Make Love up through her untimely death in 1962. His eleventh book, Marilyn & Me contains over 130 photographs of Marilyn.

What kind of art does Lawrence Schiller make?

Lawrence Schiller is best known for his photography. His work has primarily been for magazines and periodicals, and as such mainly focuses on celebrity portraits. His most famous portraits by far are of Marilyn Monroe, with which Schiller had a great working relationship. Though Schiller eventually moved on to directing feature films and television, he never stopped his photography practice. He had his first exhibition in the US in 2012, when he displayed Marilyn Monroe and America in the 1960s at the Steven Kasher Gallery. Schiller is the rare artist who has had success in several mediums, a best-selling author, photographer, and critically acclaimed director. The only through-line is the humanity and warmth that Schiller puts into every single one of his pieces -- no matter the medium.

How did photographer Lawrence Schiller get started?

Lawrence Schiller was born in Brooklyn in 1936, though his parents quickly moved to San Diego, California. Schiller attended Pepperdine College for photography and eventually worked for several big magazines of the 1950s and 1960s including Life, Paris Match, The Sunday Times, Newsweek, and The Saturday Evening Post. He published his first book in 1966, entitled LSD. His first documentary was an audio-only album entitled Why Did Lenny Bruce Die? (1967) and focused on the controversial comedian. He would go on to have several New York Times bestsellers, film several motion pictures, and become a consultant for Taschen and several political campaigns.

How much are Lawrence Schiller photographs worth?

Lawrence Schiller prints and photographs can be worth anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Some of Lawrence Schiller’s celebrity profiles have sold for tens of thousands of dollars. The most paid for a Larence Schiller print set was $21,875 for the Marilyn 12 Portfolio (14 photographs) (1962) on October 11th, 2017. This was sold by Heritage Auctions. The market’s appetite specifically for Schiller’s Marilyn photos is vast, and a prospective collector would be wise to take advantage when they become available at auction.

Where to buy Lawrence Schiller photographs for sale?

See works for sale below. Why buy from Heritage? Art buyers feel confident because our experts know the market and put careful valuations on artwork for sale. We make the bidding process easier to help you expand your art collection.

How to value Lawrence Schiller photographs?

The best way to value art is to compare past auction prices for similar works. View past sale prices below. When you’re ready to sell, contact Heritage Auctions to request an auction estimate of the likely selling price at auction. If you need a formal written appraisal for estate planning or insurance, please contact our Appraisal Services Department.