Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up
A fresh perspective on Kahlo's compelling life story through her most intimate personal belongings
Ran from 16 June 2018 to 18 November 2018 at V&A South Kensington
V&A South Kensington
Sold out
This exhibition is now closed at V&A South Kensington
an extraordinary testimony to suffering and spirit ★★★★★
The Observer
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Exhibition highlights
Cotton huipil with machine-embroidered chain stitch; printed cotton skirt with embroidery and holán (ruffle).
Detail of cotton huipil with chain stitch embroidery, Museo Frida Kahlo. Photograph: Javier Hinojosa. Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Archives, Banco de México, Fiduciary of the Trust of the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums
Frida Kahlo in blue satin blouse, 1939, photograph by Nickolas Muray © Nickolas Muray Photo Archives
Detail of satin skirt with chain stitch and floral motif embroidery. Museo Frida Kahlo. Photograph: Javier Hinojosa. Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Archives, Banco de México, Fiduciary of the Trust of the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums
Frida Kahlo, c. 1926. On verso: 'April 1929, July. To Diego. Frieda.' Image courtesy of Museo Frida Kahlo. © Diego Riviera and Frida Kahlo Archives, Banco de México, Fiduciary of the Trust of the Diego Riviera and Frida Kahlo Museums.
Guatemalan cotton coat worn with Mazatec huipil and plain floor-length skirt. Museo Frida Kahlo © Diego Riviera and Frida Kahlo Archives, Banco de México, Fiduciary of the Trust of the Diego Riviera and Frida Kahlo Museums
Frida Kahlo with Olmec figurine, 1939 © Nickolas Muray Photo Archives
Revlon compact and powderpuff with blusher in 'Clear Red'; Seal-fast nail varnish top coat; Lastron nail varnishes in 'Frosted Snow Pink' and 'Frosted Pink Lightening'; lipstick in 'Everything's Rosy'. Before 1954. Photographs: Javier Hinojosa. Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Archives, Banco de México, Fiduciary of the Trust of the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums
Prosthetic leg with leather boot. Appliquéd silk with embroidered Chinese motifs. Museo Frida Kahlo. © Diego Riviera and Frida Kahlo Archives, Banco de México, Fiduciary of the Trust of the Diego Riviera and Frida Kahlo Museums
Plaster corset, painted and decorated by Frida Kahlo, Museo Frida Kahlo. © Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Archives, Banco de México, Fiduciary of the Trust of the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums
Self-portrait on the Border between Mexico and the United States of America, Frida Kahlo, 1932. © Modern Art International Foundation (Courtesy María and Manuel Reyero)
Self-portrait with red and gold dress, Frida Kahlo, 1941. Courtesy of Gerardo Suter and The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of the 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation © 2018 Banco de México, Fiduciary of the Trust of the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums
Past events
Thursday Members' Preview Day - Frida Kahlo
Thursday Curator Talk: Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up
Friday Members' Preview - Frida Kahlo
Curator Talk: Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up
Frida Kahlo: Members' Morning View
Frida Kahlo: Members' Morning View with Breakfast
Adwoa Aboah
Colours of Mexico & Digital Illustration
Teacher Twilight, Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up
Frida Kahlo: Members' Morning - Saturday
Colours of Mexico & Digital Illustration
Frida Kahlo: Members' Morning - Sunday
Introduction to Ribbon Embroidery: Frida Kahlo
Mexican Embroidery Techniques
Create! Fabric Design (13-15 years)
Mexican Inspired Jewellery Design with Tatty Devine
Create! Make Your Own Garment (13-15 years)
Frida Kahlo Fashion Styling Workshop
V&A Book Group: The Lacuna
iPad Portraits
Frida Kahlo: Her Art, Life and Times
Frida Kahlo: Members' Morning - Saturday
Frida Kahlo: Members' Morning - Sunday
Lunchtime Lecture: Frida Kahlo
Gouache Self Portraits
Fashion in Motion: Carla Fernández
October Half-term Make-it: Portraits
The Imagination Station: October Half-Term 2018
Digital Kids October Half Term
Pop-up Performances October Half Term
Frida Kahlo: Members' Morning View with Breakfast - Saturday
Frida Kahlo: Members' Morning View with Breakfast - Sunday
Frida: Inside and Outside
Day of the Dead Festival
Corrido: A Ballad For The Brave
Mexican Textiles and Ceramics
Frida Kahlo: Cultural Identity and Radical Art in Mexico
Features
Making the Frida Kahlo mannequins
Making the Frida Kahlo mannequins
Follow our Conservation Display Specialists on a journey to create the bespoke mannequins featured in the Frida Kahlo exhibition
In conversation: perspectives on Frida Kahlo
In conversation: perspectives on Frida Kahlo
Listen to Curator Claire Wilcox and leading art historian Gannit Ankori discuss the exhibition 'Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up'
Making her self up – Frida Kahlo's cosmetics
Making her self up – Frida Kahlo's cosmetics
Claire Wilcox, Senior Curator of Fashion, examines Frida Kahlo's make-up collection
Unlocking Frida Kahlo's wardrobe
Unlocking Frida Kahlo's wardrobe
Locked away for 50 years, an intimate collection of Frida Kahlo's personal belongings reveals a fresh perspective on this iconic artist
Sew your own: Mexican-style huipil
Sew your own: Mexican-style huipil
Sew your own colourful version of the traditional Mexican tunic worn by Frida Kahlo
Photographing Frida Kahlo
Photographing Frida Kahlo
Research Assistant Ana Baeza Ruiz explores why photography, not painting, was Kahlo's first means of self-expression
Traditional Mexican dress
Traditional Mexican dress
Discover the flamboyant styles of indigenous Mexican dress favoured by Frida Kahlo
Mexican embroidery
Mexican embroidery
Discover stunning examples of Mexican embroidery from the V&A's textile collection
Inside the Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up exhibition
Inside the Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up exhibition
Take a look inside the Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up exhibition
Teachers' Resource: Frida Kahlo, Making Her Self Up
This resource is suitable for Key Stages 3–5 Art & Design students and aims to unpick how Kahlo crafted her identity through dress, painting and photography.
Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up
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ART MENTOR FOUNDATION LUCERNE
Copyright ©2018 Banco de México, fiduciary of the Trust of the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums, Av. 5 de Mayo no. 2, Col. Centro, Del. Cuauhtémoc, CP 06000, Mexico