"What Would Frida Kahlo Think of Her Own ‘Fridamania?" A new podcast by The Times
14 April 2026
The declared purpose of this editorial analysis is to examine how the artist's identity was turned into a marketable commodity.
They start from the premise that one of the most important changes in contemporary cultural history is the rise of Frida Kahlo from a relatively unknown Mexican painter to a well-known worldwide brand. Although she explored themes of radical politics, indigenous identity, and chronic pain in her canvases, her image is now found on everything from disposable consumer goods to high-end clothing.
In YouTube The Times published 8 videos telling the story of this journey:
- The 40 Million Pound Legacy
- Blanca Schofield and the Casa Azul Impression
- A Near-Fatal Crash: The Birth of an Artist
- A Turbulent Partnership: Rivera and Trotsky
- 1983: The Biography That Created an Icon
- From Scented Candles to Sanitary Pads
- The Frida Kahlo Corporation and Family Strife
- The Barbie Controversy: Erasing the Monobrow
Follow the link below to access the YouTube podcast.
