Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up
A fresh perspective on Kahlo's compelling life story through her most intimate personal belongings
an extraordinary testimony to suffering and spirit ★★★★★
The Observer
This exhibition is now closed at V&A South Kensington
This exhibition presented an extraordinary collection of personal artefacts and clothing belonging to the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Locked away for 50 years after her death, this was the first exhibition of this collection outside Mexico.
Exhibition Trailer

Grosvenor Britain & Ireland is delighted to partner with the V&A as lead sponsor of 'Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up'. Grosvenor creates and manages high quality neighbourhoods that are great places to live, work and visit. The diverse property development, management and investment portfolio includes the fashionable districts of Mayfair & Belgravia. Grosvenor has a 20-year vision to make its London estate more active, flexible, open and appealing to all, with better streets, greener spaces and enterprising places.
Exhibition Highlights












Past Events
Features

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
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
Claire Wilcox, Senior Curator of Fashion, examines Frida Kahlo's make-up collection

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 colourful version of the traditional Mexican tunic worn by 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
Discover the flamboyant styles of indigenous Mexican dress favoured by Frida Kahlo

Mexican embroidery
Discover stunning examples of Mexican embroidery from the V&A's textile collection

Inside the Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up exhibition
Take a look inside the Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up exhibition

Shop
Explore the range of exclusive gifts, jewellery, prints and more. Every purchase supports the V&A

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.
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