Last updated: 27 October 2026
Frida Kahlo (1907 to 1954) is the Mexican painter of searching self-portraits. Here you will find our take on her work, Tate Modern’s Frida: The Making of an Icon, on until January 2027, and Kahlo prints you can buy from £16.
Our take on Frida Kahlo
Kahlo started painting in 1925 while recovering from a bus accident, and most of her work is small, close self-portraiture drawing on Mexican folk art, according to MoMA. She rejected the Surrealist label that André Breton gave her: “They thought I was a Surrealist but I wasn’t. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.”
Tate Modern’s Frida: The Making of an Icon pairs more than 30 of her works, including Self-Portrait (With Velvet Dress) (1926) and The Frame (1938), with work by the artists she influenced. Its last room, “Fridamania”, gathers more than 200 objects made from her image, from dolls to perfume.
That last room is the point of the show: how a painter became a brand. Tickets are £25, and it runs to 3 January 2027.
Frida Kahlo: the essentials
- Born on 6 July 1907 in Mexico; died on 13 July 1954.
- Began painting in 1925 while recovering from a bus accident.
- Married the painter Diego Rivera.
- The Museo Frida Kahlo, known as the Casa Azul, is in Coyoacán, Mexico City.
Frida Kahlo exhibitions
- On now: Frida: The Making of an Icon, Tate Modern, 25 June 2026 to 3 January 2027. £25, Tate Collective £5, free for Members. Organised with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Where to buy a Frida Kahlo print
Tate’s shop has a Kahlo range for the show, including:
- The Frame mounted print, £16: 25.4 x 20.3 cm (10 x 8 in), from the Tate shop.
Frida Kahlo FAQs
How long is the Frida Kahlo exhibition at Tate Modern on for?
Until 3 January 2027. It opened on 25 June 2026.
How much are tickets for Frida: The Making of an Icon?
£25, £5 for Tate Collective members aged 16 to 25, and free for Tate Members.
Was Frida Kahlo a Surrealist?
She rejected the label: “I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.”
Can I buy a Frida Kahlo print?
Yes. Tate’s shop sells a mounted print of The Frame for £16, plus posters and gifts.
More from CoolCuration
- Tracey Emin at Tate Modern review: another 2026 Tate Modern retrospective.
- Great Women Artists: the Phaidon survey for your shelf.
- National Art Pass: discounts on big shows across the UK, including Tate.
- Great Art Explained: James Payne’s guide to how famous works were made.
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Main image: Frida Kahlo, 16 October 1932. Photo: Guillermo Kahlo, public domain via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and framed by CoolCuration. Exhibition dates and prices last checked: 27 October 2026.
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