"Being recognised in this way is such an honour"
San B is set to bring one of contemporary art’s most ambitious pop culture tributes to central London as his Marilyn Monroe centenary artwork heads to auction.
Officially approved and supported by the Marilyn Monroe Estate, the unique piece positions the East London-born artist at the centre of a landmark cultural moment marking 100 years since Monroe’s birth.
Known for his intricate Swarovski crystal-based works that sit between fine art, luxury craftsmanship and cultural commentary, San B has built a reputation for transforming global icons into highly detailed visual statements.
Marilyn Monroe: Immortal continues that approach on a larger scale, combining technical precision with a focus on symbolism and emotional depth.
In an interview with DESIblitz, San B reflects on the responsibility behind creating a work that engages with one of the most recognisable figures in modern history, and what it means for his evolving practice.
Honouring Marilyn Monroe
Few figures in popular culture have achieved the enduring status of Marilyn Monroe.
More than six decades after her death, she remains a symbol of Hollywood glamour, fame and fascination.
That longevity is what attracted San B to create Marilyn Monroe: Immortal, a work designed to mark the centenary of her birth.
The project also arrived with a distinction that few artists receive.
San B is the only artist officially approved and supported by the Marilyn Monroe Estate for the centenary, a recognition that added both credibility and responsibility to the commission.
He says: “It’s Marilyn Monroe’s centenary and I am the only artist officially approved and supported by the Marilyn Monroe estate.
“Being recognised in this way is such an honour because Monroe is one of the most famous and emotionally charged figures in our culture.”
For an artist whose work often explores legacy and symbolism, Monroe represented a subject unlike any other.
Her image has been reproduced across countless mediums, making it essential for the piece to offer something meaningful rather than simply another interpretation of a familiar face.
San B continues: “This piece is certainly ambitious but I needed to do her justice and being trusted by her estate matters enormously.
“As well as giving validation to my work and it being understood in the spirit I intended, it’s also my responsibility to honour Monroe’s legacy.”
Consisting of more than 150,000 Swarovski crystals and taking over 1,000 hours to complete, Marilyn Monroe: Immortal is one of the most ambitious pieces of his career:
“As we know, Monroe has been represented countless times in so many different forms globally.
“I knew that if I took on crafting a portrait of someone who means so much to so many people, it had to be at the highest possible level.”
The painstaking process required a level of discipline that extends beyond technical skill. For San B, creating art is an immersive experience, allowing him to focus entirely on the story he wants the work to tell.
“When I am creating is the only time I feel free and I enter an almost meditative state.”
That focus became increasingly important as the portrait developed over hundreds of hours.
Rather than viewing the work as a repetitive exercise, he used the process to deepen his connection with Monroe’s story and legacy.
“While the process is slow, repetitive and incredibly demanding, I find that intensity is also where my connection to the piece deepens.
“I stay mentally focused by becoming completely immersed in the subject; it’s never just about placing the crystals, but about building presence and emotion with every decision I make.
“To sustain that level of concentration, you have to surrender to the discipline of it.”
The artwork also introduces a new element to his practice because for the first time, diamonds were incorporated into his work.
The artist says: “To add further symbolic weight, I have used diamonds in this work, the first time I have ever used them.
“The work needed to be worthy of her centenary and the permanence of her legacy because she is the icon of all icons.”
Looking Beyond the Public Image
While Marilyn Monroe is often remembered through the lens of celebrity and glamour, San B was more interested in exploring the woman behind the image.
Rather than focusing solely on the Hollywood icon, he sought to examine the tension between Marilyn Monroe and Norma Jeane Mortenson, her birth name.
He explained: “Marilyn Monroe has been seen through a lens of glamour for decades, but what compelled me was the fragile woman beneath that surface.
“Norma Jeane represents the private self behind the myth, and I wanted to explore that tension between the dazzling public projection and the quiet, very human vulnerability underneath.”
Symbolism plays a central role in his work, as San B explains:
“Symbolism is central to my work and so the materials, tones and spaces all have to carry meaning. I never want my work to exist only on a decorative level.
“In this piece, the black void becomes a psychological space.
“It’s a representation of Norma Jeane herself, the weight she carried, and the emotional truth that existed behind the public image.”
From East London to the Art World
Although San B always considered himself creative, becoming a full-time artist was not an obvious career path. Like many British South Asians, he faced expectations to pursue a more conventional profession.
He recalls: “I always knew I was creative, but I didn’t always believe fine art could be the path, especially coming from an Indian background where the pressure to choose something more conventional is very real.
“I studied architecture before becoming an artist because it felt like the safer route, something that made sense on paper, even though I couldn’t see my future in it.”
He eventually realised that his ambitions lay elsewhere:
“Eventually I realised I had to back what felt true to me and that has always been art.”
Entrepreneurship also played a key role in shaping his mindset, as he details:
“I am lucky that growing up, I watched my father run his own business and seeing this success made entrepreneurship feel not just possible, but instinctive.
“It taught me that building something for yourself, in whatever career you choose, demands sacrifice, discipline, and belief. This mindset and belief in the possible has always stayed with me.”
Rather than viewing art solely as a creative pursuit, he approached it with the same determination required to build a business from the ground up.
“Even though art is a different kind of journey, I’ve always approached it with that same entrepreneurial drive: the determination to build something real, lasting, and entirely my own.”
A key turning point came during his college years.
“College was a major turning point for me as that was when a teacher first made me feel that art could be a real career, not just something I did for enjoyment.
“Before that, I had always created, drawn, painted, and entered competitions, but it wasn’t something I imagined as a future.
“College was the moment I began to believe there might actually be a path in it, and looking back, that shift in belief was huge.”
His distinctive crystal-based art style emerged later through experimentation.
San B says: “Once I realised this was my calling, the work itself began to flow very naturally through constant experimentation. My background in architecture gave me structure, planning, tonal understanding, and a real sense of precision.
“The crystals came later, sparked by a quiet moment at home watching rhinestones being applied to fabric. That was the moment everything clicked.
“I understood that crystals didn’t have to be decorative; they could function as a serious visual language.
“Over time, that blend of structural discipline and material innovation became my signature.”
Representation and Impact
Many of San B’s best-known works focus on individuals whose influence extends beyond their immediate field.
His portraits of Anthony Joshua and Bruno Mars attracted global attention because they tapped into wider themes of perseverance, achievement and cultural significance.
He explains: “A lot of that instinct comes from my preference for immortalising individuals whose presence extends far beyond their field.
“I’m drawn to people who carry cultural weight – figures whose stories, energy and symbolism align with the themes I explore in my work.
“It’s never just about fame; it’s about what they represent and the emotional charge they bring with them.”
Citing his Anthony Joshua piece, he continues:
“For example, when I created Anthony Joshua’s portrait, I decided to go with a detailed image of AJ to show his determination and focus.
“I’m genuinely proud of what he has achieved and what he has done for the sport of boxing. He embodies resilience and discipline.
“When a figure holds that kind of meaning, it becomes clear they’re someone I can build a piece around.”
As a British Sikh artist, San B has also witnessed growing opportunities for South Asian creatives within contemporary art, stating:
“I think there is definitely more space opening up now, and that’s an exciting thing.
“For me, the focus is less on what’s missing and more on what’s being built.
“I’m proud to be part of a generation of British South Asian artists who are bringing their own identity, ambition and point of view into contemporary art, including luxury and high-concept spaces.”
San B’s approach has “always been to create work at the highest level possible and let the work speak with authority”.
He adds: “If that also helps broaden representation and open doors for others, then that’s something I’m very proud of.”
Art Beyond the Gallery
While San B’s work is often associated with luxury craftsmanship and high-profile exhibitions, philanthropy remains an equally important part of his practice.
Over the years, his artwork has helped raise more than £500,000 for charitable causes.
He says: “Philanthropy is incredibly important to me.
“I’ve always believed that art should do more than simply exist in a private space. It should have the power to contribute, to uplift and to make a tangible difference.
“Over the years, giving back has become a real part of the purpose behind my work.”
Fatherhood further strengthened that connection, as he elaborates:
“Since becoming a parent, and especially after my daughter was born prematurely, children’s causes have taken on a deeply personal meaning.”
That personal motivation has influenced plans for Marilyn Monroe: Immortal:
“Being able to support others through what I create gives the work another level of significance.
“This is why we have organised a private auction on July 2nd of Marilyn Monroe: Immortal and will be donating a percentage of the funds raised to Caudwell Children and the Caudwell Youth Foundation.
“Monroe is a major moment in my career, but it also marks the beginning of a much bigger chapter.”
On his future work, he says: “My work is moving into a deeper exploration of permanence, symbolism and the idea of immortality.”
That ambition reflects a desire to create pieces with lasting cultural relevance, as San B adds:
“I want to keep creating one-of-one pieces that feel culturally and emotionally lasting.
“I want to produce works that stand beyond trend and beyond the moment because my ambition is always to push the practice to a level where it endures.”
The upcoming auction signals a continuation of San B’s wider trajectory, where fine art, cultural storytelling and philanthropy intersect through increasingly ambitious work.
With Marilyn Monroe: Immortal, the artist reinforces a practice built on discipline, symbolism and permanence, while also channelling proceeds towards charitable causes that remain central to his ethos.
As attention turns to London for the July 2, 2026 auction, the piece stands not only as a tribute to Monroe’s enduring legacy but also as a reflection of an artist shaping his own place within contemporary art and popular culture.
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