One month left to see the Frida Kahlo exhibition in Paris!

Palais Galliera’s solo exhibition of work by Frida Kahlo opened in Paris on September 15^th, 2022 and will be open until March 5^th, 2023. The event has been very successful and has already attracted countless visitors. For those of you who haven’t had the chance to see it, there’s still time to enjoy the show!

Frida Kahlo exhibition in Paris: there’s still time but the clock is ticking!

Bad news: the six-month Frida Kahlo exhibition in Paris is almost over. Good news: you still have about a month to enjoy this must-see event at the beginning of 2023. The show gives you a chance to discover this Mexican painter’s life, work and personal philosophy from a more intimate perspective.

An iconic artist who gained recognition late in life

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is undoubtedly one of the most famous and influential artists of the 20^th century. Her work and life are powerful and full of joy and pain.

A Mexican painter renowned as a purveyor of a singular style of surrealist art, Frida Kahlo was heavily influenced by Mexican history. Her work is permeated by a harmonious blend of nature and folk art. She is well known for her countless self-portraits. In fact, Frida Kahlo painted more self-portraits than Van Gogh and Rembrandt.

The theme of pain is palpable in her work - she suffered enormous amounts of physical discomfort for much of her life and was disabled in a bus accident when she was 18. She also endured much mental turmoil caused by a tumultuous marriage with the famous mural painter Diego Riva. Her work also revolved around the themes of post-colonialism, gender and the cultural identity of indigenous Mexicans. The Frida Kahlo exhibition in Paris touches upon these various subjects in a wonderful way.

A symbol of female, political and romantic emancipation

A self-taught artist, Frida Kahlo may not have been fully recognized during her lifetime but she gradually became a symbol of progressivism from the 1990s on. She became an icon associated with many emerging political positions tinged with humanitarian concepts and open viewpoints aimed at cultivating a collective mindset for the greater good.

Frida Kahlo never hid her communist ideologies. She is said to have had an affair with Leon Trotsky, one of the prominent figures of the 1914 Russian Revolution. He was forced to flee his country and take refuge in Mexico where he met Kahlo. Her painting entitled Self-portrait on the Borderline between Mexico and the United States (1932) reflects her anti-Americanism and disdain for imperialism.

The love of her life

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s love was based on the unshaking foundation of their shared love for one another’s work and their similar world views. Much of Kahlo’s work was fueled by the spiritual path she took during her shared life with Rivera, a humanitarian with a big heart.

This famous artist couple has certainly cemented a place for themselves in the history of art. Christine Frérot, PhD in Art History, confirms this in her book entitled, A Melancholic Passion According to Frida Kahlo.

A must-see Frida Kahlo exhibition in Paris!

Frida Kahlo did not love France or Paris. She was disappointed by a trip she took to the capital in 1938. She found the city dirty and was dissatisfied by the intellectual microcosm present at the time. She went so far as to call André Breton and the surrealists, "A bunch of coocoo lunatic sons of bitches." Despite her distain for France, one of 2023’s most beautiful exhibitions is being held in Paris. The show’s curators showcased Frida Kahlo’s life and work in a spectacular and never-before-seen way.

The origins of the Frida Kahlo exhibition in Paris

Frida Kahlo's house in Mexico – the Casa Azul - had been placed under seal by her husband Diego Rivera (1886-1957) after Kahlo’s death. In 2004 this precious collection was open to the public, revealing a prodigious treasure trove of more than six thousand photographs, three hundred items of clothing, countless documents, letters, photos, jewelry and accessories. 200 objects from this collection are on display in Paris at the Palais Galliera alongside several of Kahlo’s most emblematic paintings.

A sumptuous wardrobe

The Frida Kahlo exhibition in Paris is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to admire the Kahlo’s dresses. The highlight of her prodigious wardrobe, the famous traditional Mexican outfits she wore daily, are on display as well as pieces from Guatemala, China, Europe and the United States. Frida Kahlo used her appearance as a way for her to express her identity and political stance.

Practical Guide: Frida Kahlo exhibition in Paris

Here is a quick rundown of everything you need to know about the Frida Kahlo exhibition in Paris - a fabulously curated retrospective with rarely seen objects the bring us an intimate and touching look at the artist’s life.

Title

Frida Kahlo: Beyond Appearances

Date and location

- Palais Galliera — 10 Avenue Pierre 1^er de Serbie, 75116 Paris

- September 15, 2022 – March 5, 2023

Hours

- Tuesday to Sunday: 10AM – 6PM (9PM Thursdays)

- Closed: Mondays and national holidays

Entrance Fees

- Full price: €15

- Discounted price: €13 

- Free for people under 18

- Accessible to Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM)

We highly recommend reserving tickets in advance. Tickets are available here.

Curators 

- Circe Henestrosa: exhibition curator and designer, Head of the School of Fashion Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore

- Miren Arzalluz: director of Palais Galliera

- Gannit Ankori: Advising Director, PhD, Henry and Lois Foster Director and Chief Curator, Rose Art Museum, USA