When the iconic painter Frida Kahlo died in 1954, her husband, Diego Rivera, donated their former home in Mexico City – the famous Blue House –to the Mexican public to transform it into a museum. Today, the Frida Kahlo Museum, honouring the artist's life and work, is one of the most visited cultural sites in the world.
However, Diego had one request: he wanted the museum to keep some of Frida's art and personal belongings hidden from prying eyes. These were locked away in the bathroom of the Blue House, adding to the room's mysterious aura. For fifty years, this personal archive containing over six thousand photos, drawings, letters, medicines, and clothes, remained unseen by the public.
The archive was opened to the public in 2003. Curator Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, a photographer and expert in Mexican photography, handpicked the newly discovered photographs to create the 'Frida Kahlo – Her Photos' exhibition. This collection features 241 previously unpublished images, cherished by Frida, showcasing various periods of her life and the important people who shaped it.
The exhibition opens on October 18th, 2024 at the photography centre Mai Manó House, and runs until January 12th, 2025. Whether you're a Frida Kahlo fan or a photography enthusiast, this special showcase is not one to miss. You can now also snag tickets in advance on-site.
More details here.
(Cover photo: Bettmann - Getty Images)
