Audrey Munson: The Forgotten Muse of American Art
In the early 20th century, Audrey Munson was a name on everyone’s lips. Born in Rochester, New York, in 1891, she rose to fame as the face—and form—behind some of the most iconic sculptures in the United States. Known as “Miss Manhattan,” “The Exposition Girl,” and the “American Venus,” Munson was the muse for over a dozen statues in New York City alone, including the Pulitzer Fountain, the Manhattan Municipal Building, the New York Public Library, and the Alexander Hamilton Custom House.
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Munson’s career began when she was discovered while window-shopping in Manhattan. Her classical beauty and poise quickly made her the go-to model for sculptors and painters alike. She posed for artists such as Daniel Chester French and Adolph Alexander Weinman, becoming immortalized in bronze and marble across the country.
In 1915, Munson made history by starring in Inspiration, one of the first non-pornographic American films to feature full nudity. Though the film was controversial, it cemented her status as a cultural icon and opened the door for her brief but notable film career. Despite her early fame, Munson’s life took a tragic turn. She became entangled in a scandal involving a murder case—though she was never implicated—and the resulting media frenzy damaged her reputation. By the 1920s, her career had faded, and she spent the last 65 years of her life in a psychiatric institution, passing away in 1996 at the age of 104.
Today, Audrey Munson’s legacy lives on in the statues that still grace public spaces, silently telling the story of a woman who once embodied the artistic spirit of a generation.
Many of my “Guided Walking Tours in NYC” include seeing statues of Audrey Munson. These tours are “fun thing to do for all young adults. Book one of my “Manhattan Walking Tours” at Eyesonmanhattan.com. Hope to see you there soon.
