Image: Frida Kahlo (Mexican, 1907–1954), Untitled [Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird], 1940. Oil on canvas mounted to board. Nickolas Muray Collection of Mexican Art, 66.6. Harry Ransom Center.
‘Frida: The Making of an Icon’ is on view at Tate Modern from 25 June 2026 to 3 January 2027. The exhibition is organised by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in collaboration with Tate Modern, and follows Kahlo’s path from working artist to internationally recognised cultural and commercial figure.
According to Tate, the display brings together more than 30 of Kahlo’s best-known works, shown with garments, jewellery, photographs and memorabilia, and sets them against more than 200 works by her contemporaries and by later artists who responded to her. Works and loans named by the museum include the 1940 self-portrait with a thorn necklace and hummingbird, from the Nickolas Muray Collection of Mexican Art at the Harry Ransom Center; Muray’s 1939 photograph of Kahlo on a white bench in New York, from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Yasumasa Morimura’s ‘An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo (Hand Shaped Earring)’ of 2001, from the Minneapolis Institute of Art; and Richard Duardo’s 2003 print ‘Frida Grandisima’.
The final section turns to what Tate calls ‘Fridamania’, presenting more than 200 commercial objects that trace how her art, image and persona were turned into a global brand.
Tickets are £25, with free entry for Tate Members and advance booking recommended, and Tate lists a reduced price for visitors aged 12 to 18 until 1 September. The museum flags content including images of dead bodies and references to sexual violence and miscarriage. Related programming includes Relaxed Hours on the third Tuesday of each month, Frida Fridays for Tate Collective during the Friday late openings in August, screenings of the films ‘Frida’ and ‘Coco’, and a Mexican menu devised with Santiago Lastra of KOL, offered with exhibition tickets until 31 August 2026.
Bank of America is lead global supporter. Further support is credited to John J. Studzinski CBE, The Dyers’ Company, the ‘Frida: The Making of an Icon’ Exhibition Supporters Circle, Tate International Council, Tate Patrons, Tate Members and Tate Americas Foundation. The Times and The Sunday Times are media partners.
