Traveling in Search of Art: A New Unique Place on the Map of Mexico Is Emerging

This fall, a new museum dedicated to one of the most fascinating figures in the 20th-century art world, Frida Kahlo, will open in Mexico City. Located in the Coyoacán neighborhood, right next to the legendary Casa Azul, the new venue, Museo Casa Kahlo, is set to become a unique space not only for art lovers, but also for those who want to learn about lesser-known stories from the artist’s life.

The new museum is housed in Casa Roja, a house that once belonged to Frida’s parents and remained in the family’s hands for decades. Thanks to the initiative of her sister’s granddaughter, Mary Romeo Kahlo – considered the painter’s closest living relative – the private residence was transformed into an exhibition space. The prestigious New York studio Rockwell Group is responsible for the architectural concept, and Mara Romeo Kahlo herself calls the project the fulfillment of a long-standing family dream.

In a special statement by Frida's heir one can read:

"This is a dream our family has held within us for a long time. Frida's legacy belongs to the whole world, but its source is here - on this land, in these homes, in the culture that shaped her. Museo Casa Kahlo will allow us to tell new stories, share family secrets, give space to new voices and build a future in keeping with her spirit."

It is this last aspect that makes the new museum so intriguing. Although Frida Kahlo has been a symbol of strength, independence and creative nonconformism for years , her story is still often simplified to a few symbols: her eyebrows fused together, her painful marriage to Diego Rivera and her self-portraits full of suffering. Museo Casa Kahlo has the ambition to present her more broadly – ​​as a woman immersed in the culture of her country, an artist shaped by encounters with outstanding figures from the world of art, science and politics, as a flesh-and-blood character.

The new space is directly adjacent to the well-known Casa Azul, or Blue House , the place where Frida was born, lived and died. It is this house, built by her father Guillermo, that houses the artist’s and her husband’s most important collection of works. It also houses everyday objects, letters, clothes, pre-Columbian artifacts and folk art – all of which create an intimate portrait of her.

Casa Roja is intended to be a narrative and contemporary space. It will house not only exhibitions dedicated to Frida's early work and the influential figures who surrounded her, but also temporary exhibitions. The curators plan to present works by contemporary artists from Mexico, Latin America and the world, with a special emphasis on female voices. This is a conscious choice – Frida, who was herself a pioneer of female expression in art, is now becoming the patron of a new generation of female artists.

The new institution will be headed by Adán García Fajardo , who has previously served as scientific director at the Museum of Memory and Tolerance in Mexico City. His involvement heralds that the museum will not be just a gallery, but a place of active dialogue, education, and social sensitivity.

The project was supported by the newly established nonprofit organization Fundación Kahlo, based in New York. The foundation was created by the family to protect Frida's legacy and support Mexican, indigenous and Latin American culture. In addition to supporting the museum, the foundation announces the launch of the Frida Kahlo Art Biennial and a program supporting artists from the region. The organization is headed by renowned communications and PR specialist Rick Miramontez.

Everything suggests that the Museo Casa Kahlo may become a symbol of a new era in the perception of Frida's legacy - as a source of inspiration, but also a starting point for a conversation about the future of art, identity and culture in Latin America. And for visitors - a unique opportunity to get to know Frida better than ever before.