Photographs like that above always make me wonder: Is there such a thing as universal sexual appeal? What I mean is, I’m pretty sure every heterosexual male who sees the above photo gets a special stirring of the loins, even if they’re 95 and haven’t felt a stirring since the Reagan era. And I’ll pretty much take it for granted that every lesbian fits neatly in the former category as well. I’ll even venture so far as to say that most hetero girls would look at a pre-batshit crazy Anna Nicole Smith above and have a quick Girls Gone Wild-type imagery flash across their imaginations (nothing crazy, maybe just a peck and a little boob squeezing). So I guess all that leaves is gay men. Is it possible that a gay man can look at the photograph above and not be turned on, at all? What I mean to ask is, is it humanly possible to scan the image of a naked Anna Nicole, staring wantonly with back arched just so, and not have any sort of primal prefrontal cortex reaction? I can’t imagine it’s possible, but if it is I would take that as 100% undeniable proof that people don’t choose to be gay. Because I don’t think you can look at the above pic and elect not to be turned on in some way. You either are, or you aren’t — you can’t fight it either way (gay men, I welcome insightful comments below). But I digress. The whole point of the above pic is to note that Art & Artifact Gallery in Los Angeles will be unveiling an exclusive private Playboy Legacy Collection tonight which will run for two weeks. The exhibition will showcase some of the most celebrated and stunning images (published and unpublished) from the Playboy‘s archives, taken by some renowned photographers and personalities.

Featured photos include a brunette Marilyn Monroe taken in 1946 and as a blond in 1949, Ursula Andress from 1965, and Bettie Page lounging with a couple cheetahs from 1954. More recent images available for purchase include Stephanie Seymour, several Pamela Anderson pics shot by David LaChappelle, Dita Von Teese photographed by Marilyn Manson, and the above image of Anna Nicole Smith. Photographs by Salvador Dali, Michael Bay (booo!) and Spike Lee round out the exhibition. There is even a Playboy Legacy Box Set available, complete with the entire collection of forty-eight limited edition photographs and a companion book (images and books signed by Hugh Hefner, Charis, Pamela Anderson and Martha Smith also available).

One more NSFW gallery (including Dali, Bettie Page and Pamela) of exclusive pics after the Jump…