Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

It feels like eons ago that I went with girlfriends to the Frida Kahlo exhibit in Houston. It was, in fact, way back at the end of February.

Colorful mural introducing you to the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Welcome to the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Grid like photos of people imitating Frida Kahlo's unibrow look at the entrance to the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Imitation of Frida

The exhibit was spectacular! It opened my eyes to the amazing artist and person Frida Kahlo was. Some pieces of her art were emotional and some quite disturbing.

Oil painting on wood panel that resembles a painting of the Last Supper but with Frida Kahlo at the table It was part of the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Your Truth Will Determine…A Seat at the Table by Danie Cansino, American 1986, Oil on wood panel

Portrait of a man with woman, doll, lyre, horse and skull at the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Portrait of Miguel N. Lira by Frida Kahlo, 1927, oil on canvas.

At Houston’s Museum of Fine Art, the exhibition was called Frida, the Making of an Icon. It traced the artist’s posthumous evolution from a relatively unknown painter from Mexico to a multifaceted world wide icon. It illustrated her individualistic path and embraced her legacy by artistic and social movements. It follows the changes in her art from Surrealism, the Chicano movement, feminism, and LGBTQ+ art and advocacy, to Neo-Mexicanism, contemporary art and disability arts.

Self portrait of a woman in a red velvet dress at the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress by Frida Kahlo, 1926, oil on canvas.

Sepia toned photo of 4 women and a boy. the woman in center is dressed as a man. At the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Family photo with Frida in center dressed as a man

The work was organized into seven sections, each addressing the reception and projection of Kahlo’s work. Each section explored how this dynamic engagement shaped her iconic status.

Sepia toned photo of artist Frida Kahlo as a teen, seated with book on her lap. Part of the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Photo of Frida at age 18

Painting of Frida and her husband Diego Rivera in a frame that's shaped like a lyre decorated with shells

Diego and Frida by Frida Kahlo, 1944, oil on masonite, frame decorated with shells

The pieces shown at the Frida Kahlo exhibit in Houston illustrated how her struggles as a disabled woman, distraught lover and striving artist resonated with millions of people across the globe. So much so that she became known as Frida, no surname necessary.

Portrait of Frida with face of Diego on her forehead. Part of the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Diego and I by Frida Kahlo, 1949, oil on canvas mounted on wood.

Red and white Mexican dress worn by Frida Kahlo and part of the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Cotton huipil (dress) from Frida’s personal wardrobe

Frida Kahlo was one of only 35 women, who in 1924, enrolled in Mexico’s National Preparatory School. The entire student body there was over 2,000! Her original plan was to attend medical school. But unfortunately she was involved in a near fatal bus accident in 1925 that left her wit a broken spine, foot and pelvis. This lead to lifelong chronic pain and ailments.

Green red and gold Mexican ensembled. Part of Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Full ensemble from Frida’s personal wardrobe

Ceremonial dress in red white and black worn by Frida Kahlo, on display at the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Ceremonial Huipil worn by Frida Kahlo

While at home recovering, Frida began painting, using an easel that was adapted to allow her to work in bed. These early works paintings gave her a chance to experiment with techniques and find her artistic voice.

Self portrait of Frida Kahlo with a small monkey in a wood frame with white fillet.

Self Portrait with Small Monkey by Frida Kahlo, 1945, oil on masonite.

Painting of a woman with 2 dress the spear to be floating at the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

The Heart, also known as Memory by Frida Kahlo, 1937, oil on canvas

Frida Kahlo used her art to construct and project a multifaceted persona. Early on she rejected the idea of a fixed identity. In her art she included a very varied sense of self. This included the avant-garde artist and intellectual, the liberated flapper, the self-taught painter, the woman of mixed race, the political activist, the enamored and beloved wife, the bisexual woman, the transgressor and the disabled artist.

Painting that depicts a woman committing suicide. Part of the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

The Suicide of Dorothy Hale by Frida Kahlo, 1938-39, Oil on masonite

Painting of Frida with small monkey, thorn necklace, black cat and hummingbird on display at the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird by Frida Kahlo, 1940, oil on canvas

This exhibition visually examines how Frida articulated her many selves. She did that not only through paintings and drawings, but also through her clothing choices and how she posed for photographers.

Surrealistic rendition of Moses being discovered as an infant painted by Frida Kahlo and part of the exhibit in Houston.

One of my favorites!
Moses by Frida Kahlo, 1945, oil on masonite

Painting of a nurse with baby Frida. Part of the Frida Kahlo Exhibit Houston

My Nurse and I by Frida Kahlo, 1937, oil on metal

After spending the afternoon immersed in Frida Kahlo, I left the museum with a newly found respect and admiration for the artist. I felt like I really got to know Frida!