Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up

In 1954, following her death, Frida Kahlo's possessions were locked away in the Casa Azul in Mexico City, her lifelong home. Half a century later, her collection of clothing, jewellery, cosmetics and other personal items was rediscovered. Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up offers a fresh perspective on the life story of this extraordinary artist, whose charisma and entirely individual way of dressing made her one of the most photographed women of her time. Specially-commissioned photographs show her distinctive Mexican outfits alongside her self-portraits, an unprecedented pairing that is enriched by iconic images taken in her lifetime.

Praise for V&A Exhibition Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up which accompanies this book: ‘A room of her personal belongings, which had been sealed since her death, was opened, and its contents put on display at the Blue House –it is a real coup for the V&A to be able to borrow this collection.’ Jess Cartner-Morley, The Guardian 'an extraordinary testimony to suffering and spirit' The Observer 'Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up is a larger version of the inaugural viewing of the Casa Azul stash that took place in Mexico City earlier this year. It is intimate and epic in scale, the juxtapositioning of artworks with the items that appear in them — here some jewellery, there a headdress — compelling.’ Anna Murphy, The Times ‘Whatever your preconceptions about Kahlo, it’s hard to leave this show unimpressed by her huge resilience, and without feeling just a little in love with this extraordinary woman.’ Mark Hudson, Daily Telegraph 'Claire Wilcox and Circe Henestrosa… have masterminded a celebration of the artist’s style.’ Karen Dacre, Evening Standard ‘The V&A has now put a generous selection of these intimate contents on show, amplifying them with films of her in action, more photographs, her jewellery, her costumes and a small but gripping array of her fiery self-portraits.’ Waldemar Januszczak, Sunday Times Culture

Claire Wilcox is Senior Curator in the Department of Furniture, Textiles and Fashion at the Victoria and Albert Museum and Professor in Fashion Curation at London College of Fashion, University of the Arts, London. Circe Henestrosa is an independent curator and Head of the School of Fashion at LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore.