frida kahlo

New Book on Frida Kahlo by Artist Judy Chicago

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Art, Books

Frida Kahlo is an icon -- as an artist, as the inspiration for the 2002 Academy Award winning biopic starring Salma Hayek, as the center of a cult of personality.

Amidst all the "Fridamania", and the countless key chains and trinkets that her paintings grace, the pioneering aspects of Kahlo's art can get somewhat lost. But she was a pioneering female artist, breaking new ground for women to use their own life experience as legitimate subject -- and a new book called Face to Face: Frida Kahlo, published by Prestel, seeks to put her work into that perspective.

Written by the artist Judy Chicago, along with art historian Frances Borzello, this lavishly illustrated book considers Kahlo's entire ouevre without, as Chicago writes, constantly referring to Kahlo's biography. It's a surprise to realize, for instance, that only one-third of Kahlo's paintings are self-portraits.

Face to Face includes essays by Chicago and Barzello, and then several sections where the two have a conversation in print about various aspects of Kahlo's work. They draw connections between the art that inspired the self-taught Kahlo, as well as showing Kahlo's influence on artists that came after her. And unlike other books on art with serious intent -- or, for that matter, wall text in many museums -- you don't feel like you need an advanced degree in art criticism to understand what Chicago and Barzello are saying. If you know what the phrase "picture plane" means, you've got all the lingo you need to appreciate this book.

The book may be a little heavy to tote along if you're planning to hit the Frida Kahlo highlights on your next trip to Mexico City. (See the gallery below.) But if you're a fan of Frida, I'd say it's essential pre-trip reading.

Gallery: Frida Kahlo's Mexico City Highlights

Coyocan, on the Mexico City Outskirts -- Frida Kahlo's Home Town

Casa Azul: Frida Kahlo's Home, Birth Place and Death Place

Casa Azul Garden - Photos Are Not Permitted Inside

Casa Azul Courtyard - Pre-Hispanic Artificats Displayed Here

Trotsky Museum is Near Casa Azul: Kahlo Had an Affair with Him

Tags: art, books, frida kahlo, judy chicago, MexicoCity

Frida Kahlo Art Leads Latin American Art Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

Proving that the market for Frida Kahlo art is still booming, "Survivor" her portrait of a pre-Hispanic warrior brought in $1.178 million against a pre-sale estimate of $100,000-150,000 at Christie's Latin American Art auction on Wednesday. The auction brought in a total of $16.8 million which the auction house says was its strongest Latin American sale in two years. The sale set five records total including one for Mexican artist Jose Clemente Orozco whose "The City" sold for $1.1 million.

"Survivor" had disappeared from public view for 72 years before it was put up for sale this year. The small work is oil on metal framed by artist in a handcrafted Oaxacan tin frame.Excitement was high at the sale, the piece drew nearly 50 offers. Kahlo painted the work after a period of turmoil in her life that included discovering her husband Diego Rivera's affair with her sister, her decision to commit suicide, a separation and then a reconciliation with Rivera. She described the painting as representing the survival of Mexico in a shaky world.

Tags: art, frida kahlo, latin american art, survivor

Frida Kahlo Face Care Box

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

Legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo has already had her name used to sell tequila, now New York City-based Naturals Skin Care has created a skin care line retail store. Venezuelan-born aromatherapist and holistic cosmetologist Antonio Sciortino has created a line of over 30 products including candles and makeup. There is also an Omega-3 collection, which consists of hand and body lotions, shower gels and anti-aging and anti-wrinkle face creams. The Frida Kahlo Face Care wood box includes the cucumber eye serum, the Omega 3 face cream, micro abrasion cream, mango hydrating face cream, cleanser, toner and olive oil face soap all in a wooden box. It sells for $230.

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Tags: cosmetics, face care, frida kahlo, FridaKahlo, skin care

Frida Kahlo Painting To Be Sold At Sotheby's

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions

This striking painting is instantly recognizable as a Frida Kahlo. Roots, a self-portrait done in 1943 will be sold at Sotheby's New York on May 24 as part of their sale of Latin American art. It is oil on metal and has never before appeared on the public market. The painting was done after Kahlo remarried her Diego Rivera and is one of her few full-length self-portraits. The painting is expected to sell for $5 to $7 million. The painting will most likely set a record for Kahlo's work and could set a record for work by a female artist. I wonder if Madonna, a noted Kahlo collector, will be bidding on this one.

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Tags: art, artists, artwork, collectors, frida kahlo, FridaKahlo, sothebys

The Frida Kahlo Bustier

by Dakota Smith (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

First the tequila; now the underwear. Italian lingerie company La Perla introduces the Frida Kahlo bustier, a limited-edition piece inspired by the Mexican artist. Only 50 bustiers were made; each one is hand-embroidered and decorated with Swarovski crystals. Buyers can find the bustiers at La Perla's New York City store on Madison Avenue. Price: $3,400.

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Tags: apparel, bustier, frida kahlo, la perla, LaPerla, lingerie