The 5 Best Places To See Frida Kahlo’s Art

The 20th-century Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is known for her fantastical paintings and self-portraits that portray elements of Mexican folk culture. Here, we explore some of the best places, from Mexico City to New York City, to see her legendary artworks.

As a female painter in a male-dominated era, region and industry, Frida Kahlo created vibrant works of art depicting feminist themes of sexual and emotional exploration. Her work was often overshadowed by that of her husband, Diego Rivera, but she gained more recognition after her death in 1954. Today, she remains one of the most celebrated Mexican painters.

Frida Kahlo Museum, Ciudad de México

Museum

Tickets and Tours

The best place to gain an understanding of Frida Kahlo’s complex life is at the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City. It sits inside La Casa Azul (the Blue House) – Kahlo’s childhood home and residence for the majority of her life. The artworks displayed here are mostly her lesser-known pieces, many of which she produced later in life when her communist leanings were at their strongest. Apart from Kahlo’s artwork, the museum displays paintings by her husband and personal effects, such as photographs and letters. You can buy tickets directly, but if you’re planning to book a city tour, do check the itinerary, as many Mexico City tours stop by this historic building.

Museo Dolores Olmedo

Building, Museum

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With her private art collection, Mexican businesswoman Dolores Olmedo founded her eponymous museum in Mexico City. The collection follows a distinctly Mexican theme, complete with works by Mexican artists from various regions and eras, including pre-colonial indigenous artists and contemporary talent. Olmedo has 25 of Kahlo’s paintings, along with some of her sketches and drawings. This place boasts the world’s largest collection of works by Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Angelina Beloff and Pablo O’Higgins, making it an absolute must-visit for any art fans in Mexico City.

Museo de Arte Moderno, Ciudad de Mexico

Museum

Tickets and Tours

The Museo de Arte Moderno highlights 20th-century Mexican art, with more than 3,000 works in its collection, including pieces by Frida Kahlo. Here, you’ll find The Two Fridas, one of the artist’s most famous paintings. Depicting two Fridas, one in European dress and the other in indigenous Mexican clothing, the self-portrait is a powerful work that symbolizes her uncertain identity – culturally and otherwise.

The Museum of Modern Art – MoMA, NYC

Art Gallery, Building, Museum, Opera House

Museum of Modern Art, West 53rd Street, New York, NY, USA

Tickets and Tours

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in NYC houses an impressive collection of famous modern and contemporary works, including three of Kahlo’s self-portraits. Among them is Fulang-Chang and I, depicting Kahlo and her pet monkey Fulang-Chang, whom she loved like a child; she could not have children due to a brutal accident that left her with health problems her whole life. She gave this painting to her close friend Mary Sklar; Kahlo attached a mirror to it so that they could be together anytime Mary looked into it.

National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington

Museum

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The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington DC holds Kahlo’s Self-Portrait Dedicated to Leon Trotsky. Kahlo painted this self-portrait during or shortly after her brief affair with Russian communist leader Leon Trotsky. She was an outspoken socialist and member of the Mexican Communist Party, believing that the political movement would bring back and embrace the country’s folk culture. Kahlo is one of the few Mexican artists to be featured in the NMWA.

The Best Trips and Tours in Mexico

Historical Landmark

Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City, Mexico

Book Your Trip to Mexico

Mexico is one of the most exciting countries in North America, if not the world, with its lively city streets brimming with culture, music and some of the best street food you’ll find anywhere. But it’s also a country of fascinating history and amazing natural wonders, with Aztec and Mayan temples found right next to mystical cenotes.

About the author

Elizabeth Lee

Elizabeth Lee was born in California and grew up in Hong Kong, the city where she has lived her whole life (so far!). She is currently studying at the University of Hong Kong, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English Studies and Linguistics. Rather than look for a place to call home, Elizabeth is a wanderer who wants to experience life on this earth to the fullest. Driven by her curiosity for the world and in particular other cultures, Elizabeth has travelled to various places in Asia, Britain, Australia and North America. Elizabeth is an aspiring writer who is inspired by literature, history, and foreign cultures, and her work features themes of freedom and feminism. She hopes to publish her fictional writing someday.