Kahlo, Rivera featured in US museum’s tribute to 20th-century Mexican art

West Palm Beach, Florida, Oct 20 (EFE).- More than 150 works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and their contemporaries are part of a tribute to Mexican art of the 20th century at the Norton Museum of Art in this South Florida city.

The exhibit, set to open Friday, is built on the collection of Russian-born film producer Jacques Gelman and Czech emigre Natasha Zahalka, who wed in Mexico in 1941.

The Gelmans became close friends with Kahlo and Rivera and began collecting their works.

“The Norton has never had an exhibit of Latin American art it’s almost providential that (this exhibit) is headed by Frida, the world’s best-known woman artist,” museum director Ghislain d’Humieres told Efe.

“We hope that the passion the art world and people in general feel for her attracts the community to the museum,” he said, adding that the Norton has set a goal of becoming a fully bilingual (English/Spanish) institution by the end of next year.

“This important exhibition is the spearhead to initiate our plans,” D’Humieres said.

Besides the art works, the exhibit includes a score of photographs of Kahlo, Rivera and other members of their circle.

Also on display are eight outfits typical of Kahlo’s preferred way of dressing.

The garments were never worn by Kahlo, but are representative of the peasant style “for which she was famous,” curator Ellen Roberts told Efe.

Both D’Humieres and Roberts said that despite being well aware of Kahlo’s iconic status, they have been surprised about the fervor she awakens among art lovers and the general public.

“It’s marvelous to unite the entire community and it’s what most excites me,” the Norton director said. “For me, that is a museum, the center of creative expressions of a place, and thanks to Frida I hope to achieve it.”

Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection will be on view at the Norton until Feb. 6, 2022

The exhibition features 22 works by Kahlo and 18 by Rivera, along with pieces from Manuel and Lola Alvarez Bravo, Miguel Covarrubias, Gunther Gerzso, Maria Izquierdo, Carlos Merida, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Juan Soriano and Rufino Tamayo. EFE

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