Frida and Diego works on show at Auckland Art Gallery on October 15
13 October 2022
Through more than 150 artworks, including Frida’s self-portraits and Diego’s paintings of Mexican life, the exhibition reveals how the artists played a crucial role in defining a new art following the Mexican Revolution.
"Their relationship is fascinating on a professional level, because they supported and believed in one another's work so deeply and never showed any signs of artistic competitiveness or jealousy," says Julia Waite, curator of the show which includes 23 works by Frida, and 17 artworks by Diego, alongside a collection of photographic work by Frida's close friend Lola Álvarez Bravo, and that of her lover Nickolas Muray.
In addition to Frida and Diego's paintings, the exhibition includes a selection of original Mexican garments similar to those Kahlo would have worn and a large collection of black and white photography by Manuel and Lola Álvarez Bravo, Lucienne Bloch, Patti Smith and Frida's father, Guillermo Kahlo.
The collection of Frida and Diego's works is on loan from Jacques and Natasha Gelman — the glamorous European filmmaking couple who began collecting art shortly after their arrival in Mexico in the early 1940s, and established friendships with Diego and Frida, often commissioning portraits of themselves.
"Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera: Art and Life in Modern Mexico" opens from 10am-5pm daily. The exhibition will run until January 22, 2023.
Read below an article by VIVA review.
