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Frida Kahlo: Cultural Identity and Radical Art in Mexico
Online course
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Frida Kahlo (1907–1954) celebrated her vibrant Mexican heritage in her paintings and her life. Kahlo and her circle were inspired by pre-Columbian art, contemporary indigenous cultures, and the ideals of the Mexican Revolution.
Learn from our world-class experts wherever you are, whenever suits you: watch lectures live or view the recording later in your own time. You can experience the full breadth and depth of the V&A's collections with 12 hours of study over 6 weeks. Learn at your own pace: lecture recordings and study materials, lecture notes, copies of the presentations, and additional study materials are available in our secure Microsoft Teams environment for 6 weeks after the course ends, so you'll never miss a thing. And finally, join the conversation: share your perspective with your fellow students, and support each other in your further enquiries outside of class time.
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Course Director
Chloë Sayer
Chloë Sayer is a freelance specialist in the art and culture of Latin America. She has made ethnographic collections in Mexico and Belize for the British Museum, and is a Research Associate in the Department of World Cultures at the Royal Ontario Museum, where she co-curated the exhibition ¡Viva México! Clothing & Culture.
All the lectures have been really inspiring and interesting and it's so good to listen to people talk about the subject with such knowledge and passion. Previous V&A Academy Online Course Attendee
Course overview
This Mexican art course will look at Kahlo's life, work and times. Adrian Locke (Senior Curator, Royal Academy of Arts, London) will discuss the art of the Revolution and the rise of photography. An explosion of creativity followed the 1910 Revolution, as intellectuals, artists and photographers rejected European values and espoused mexicanidad. Kahlo and her circle were inspired by pre-Columbian art and by contemporary indigenous cultures. In her haunting self-portraits, Kahlo was often flamboyantly dressed in Mexican or Guatemalan garments. As Chloë Sayer will show, Kahlo used clothing and jewellery to express her pride in her cultural heritage. A keen collector of pottery, toys, lacquer ware and ex-voto paintings, Kahlo had a deep affection for popular festive traditions including the Day of the Dead.
Image 1: Huipil, Unknown, V&A
Image 2: Ikat cloth, Arturo Estrada
Image 3: Tehuana women in festive dresses, Chloe Sayer ©
V&A Academy Online. A learning environment you can trust.
V&A Academy Online courses are built using the latest Microsoft software. Tune in to expert lectures live, or catch up later on demand. Download handouts and presentations. Join the discussion in a secure, closed class environment, wherever you are.
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Online course: Frida Kahlo: Cultural Identity and Radical Art in Mexico
21 September 2023 - 26 October 2023
£120.00
Call to book +44 (0)20 7942 2000
Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)
