Earlier this week, Frida Kahlo’s Diego y Yo self-portrait sold for an absolute record-breaking price, positioning the iconic Mexican artist as the highest valued Latinamerican artist
The portrait was auctioned off by Sotheby’s at their New York City auction house and sold for a whopping $34.9 million dollars. This is the highest price ever paid at auction for a Latin American artwork. The piece was one of Kahlo’s final self-portraits, completed in 1949, five years before her death. It depicts her crying, with a smaller image of her husband above her eyes.
This record was previously held by Kahlo’s fellow Mexican artist and husband Diego Rivera, whom she married twice and painted for over two decades. His piece sold for $9.76 million (only) back in 2018.
Who was the lucky buyer who managed to bid such a high price for Kahlo’s work you ask? Well, the buyer was identified as a founder of a museum in Argentina, according to the New York Times, who bought it for his private collection, but that he will be exhibiting at his MALBA museum in Buenos Aires next year.
But if you’d like to take a closer look at the record-breaking painting you needn’t hop on a plane to Argentina just yet. You’ll be able to see it come to life along with some other of Kahlo and River’s beautiful artworks right here in DC. Next year, there will be a grand immersive exhibition to celebrate these revolutionary artists and their work – and you can book your tickets now!
Mexican Geniuses: A Frida & Diego Immersive Experience will see over 300 projections displayed across the walls of a yet-to-be-revealed venue from next April. The mesmerizing digital show will give visitors a 360-degree experience of some of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s most famous artworks. You’ll be able to study every brushstroke, learn from audio guides, and maybe even discover elements you hadn’t seen before. The exhibition will also provide insights on them as people and a couple too.