Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection present the paintings of two icons of the 20th century. Few artists have captured the public’s imagination with the force of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907–54) and her husband, the Mexican painter and muralist Diego Rivera (1886–1957). The myths that surrounded them in their lifetime arose not only from their significant bodies of work but also from their friendships (and conflicts) with leading political figures and their passionate, tempestuous personal relationships.
Kahlo and Rivera’s works are varied in scope and inspiration: she is best known for her self-portraits, while he worked as a large-scale muralist in Mexico and the United States. Kahlo’s work is deeply personal, often depicting her own dreams, painful personal experiences, and affinity with Mexican culture, while Rivera’s pursues larger looks at the history and cultural revolution. Both artists forged the way for Mexican art as a significant element of the 20th century and beyond.
October 26, 2019 – January 19, 2020
East Building, Meymandi Exhibition Gallery