
Frida: The Making of an Icon
by Mari Carmen Ramirez,
James Oles (Contribution by),
Gannit Ankori (Contribution by),
Angelica Becerra (Contribution by),
Charlene Villaseñor Black (Contribution by),
Arden Decker (Contribution by),
Cecilia Fajardo-Hill (Contribution by),
Circe Henestrosa (Contribution by),
Magali Lara (Contribution by),
Miguel A. López (Contribution by),
Monica Mayer (Contribution by),
Luis Vargas Santiago (Contribution by),
Jaime Moreno Villarreal (Contribution by),
Adriana Zavala (Contribution by)
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780300286366
Publication Date: 01/20/2026
A sweeping new assessment of Frida Kahlo’s place in modern art, from her selfmade image to her lasting influence for contemporary artists
Few artists have shaped popular culture as profoundly as Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), whose striking selfportraits and deeply personal symbolism have captivated audiences for decades. Remembered, too, for her tumultuous marriage to fellow artist Diego Rivera and her passionate political activism, Kahlo’s legacy transcends her artistic oeuvre. To this day, contemporary artists draw on Kahlo’s life and work for creative inspiration. Showcasing Kahlo’s paintings alongside the work of other artists from around the world and from midcentury to today, Frida: The Making of an Icon investigates the profound and lasting nature of Kahlo’s impact.
With essays by leading researchers, scholars, and curators, Frida: The Making of an Icon is the first major examination of how Kahlo became a global icon and an important artistic influence, especially beginning in the 1970s. In seven sections, addressing themes from Kahlo’s role as a genderfluid intellectual to her political activism, and including conversations with contemporary artists Magali Lara and Mónica Mayer, this important book celebrates and bridges the complexities of her iconic status and cultural, political, commercial, and artistic legacy.
Published in association with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Exhibition Schedule:
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
(January–May 2026)
Tate Modern, London
(June 2026–January 2027)
Few artists have shaped popular culture as profoundly as Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), whose striking selfportraits and deeply personal symbolism have captivated audiences for decades. Remembered, too, for her tumultuous marriage to fellow artist Diego Rivera and her passionate political activism, Kahlo’s legacy transcends her artistic oeuvre. To this day, contemporary artists draw on Kahlo’s life and work for creative inspiration. Showcasing Kahlo’s paintings alongside the work of other artists from around the world and from midcentury to today, Frida: The Making of an Icon investigates the profound and lasting nature of Kahlo’s impact.
With essays by leading researchers, scholars, and curators, Frida: The Making of an Icon is the first major examination of how Kahlo became a global icon and an important artistic influence, especially beginning in the 1970s. In seven sections, addressing themes from Kahlo’s role as a genderfluid intellectual to her political activism, and including conversations with contemporary artists Magali Lara and Mónica Mayer, this important book celebrates and bridges the complexities of her iconic status and cultural, political, commercial, and artistic legacy.
Published in association with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Exhibition Schedule:
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
(January–May 2026)
Tate Modern, London
(June 2026–January 2027)
Choose options

Frida: The Making of an Icon
Sale price$65.00
New Releases
Leave Me Alone!: A Good Inside Story About Deeply Feeling Kids
Becky Kennedy
Hardcover
Sale price$19.99
















