¡Frida Icónica! takes over the heart of Soho
Coinciding with the public opening of Frida: The Making of an Icon at Tate Modern, ¡Frida Icónica! has taken over Carnaby Street, transforming the cultural hub into a vivid celebration of one of the art world’s most enduring and iconic figures.
This spectacular installation has turned the heart of Soho into a vibrant canvas with a colourful display of public art inspired by Kahlo’s extraordinary vision. Garlands of traditional papel picado – the intricate Mexican art of decorative paper cutting – designed by artist Alejandra Ballesteros, cascade down Carnaby Street, featuring motifs and scenes inspired by Kahlo’s life and work. At its heart, an anamorphic mural composed from four portraits by Kahlo and contemporary artists reveals the artist’s recognisable profile when viewed head-on. The installation transforms when lit up from day to night, bringing Kahlo’s extraordinary world of colour, queer identity and Mexican heritage to this legendary district renowned for the very radical creativity and self-expression that the artist represents.
Opening today (25 June), Frida: The Making of an Icon
It has become the highest pre-selling exhibition in Tate’s history, with more than 50,000 tickets sold, reinforcing Kahlo’s status as one of the most influential and widely recognised artists of the 20th century. Bringing together over 30 works by Kahlo alongside more than 80 contemporary artists from across the globe who have drawn influence from her aesthetic, identity and biography, the exhibition explores just how she transformed from a little-known Mexican painter to a worldwide cultural phenomenon.
¡Frida Icónica! extends this celebration of Kahlo’s life and work out of the gallery and onto the streets of London, remaining in place until 31 August.
On the other side of the river in Bankside, meanwhile, six large-scale public murals have been created by emerging artists aged under 25, in response to Kahlo’s extraordinary legacy. From a monumental floor-based intervention to paintings spanning the area’s iconic railway arches, they mark the second iteration of Beyond Boundaries – a collaboration between Better Bankside and Tate Collective, Tate’s scheme for 16-25-year-olds worldwide, with support from Oxford Properties, aimed at connecting passers-by with creativity, community and the world around them. Due to remain in place for several years, each mural explores different facets of Kahlo’s identity, including her feminism, Mexican heritage, queerness and experience of disability, carrying her fearless spirit forward through the voices and perspectives of a new generation.
Catherine Wood, Interim Director of Tate Modern, said: “The extraordinary demand for Frida Kahlo is testament to the enduring power of her story and her work, which continues to resonate across cultures and communities, and inspire new generations of artists. Tate Modern is thrilled to be leading a summer-long programme across the city. Positioning Frida as an artist for 21st-century London, we will offer audiences multiple entry points into her world – from the intimate space of the gallery to the shared experience of the public realm.”
Catherine Riccomini, Director of Marketing and Communications at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Welcoming ¡Frida Icónica! to Carnaby Street this summer is about creating a shared cultural experience for London that makes Soho and Carnaby Street unlike anywhere else in the city. It has been brilliant to collaborate with Tate Modern, bringing together two of London’s most celebrated cultural destinations to share Frida Kahlo’s life, art and legacy in the heart of the city. By bringing world-class culture into a vibrant public space, we hope to make art more accessible and part of the everyday experience of Londoners and visitors alike. ¡Frida Icónica! is a tribute to Frida Kahlo’s spirit and the richness of Mexican artistry and heritage, and we hope it inspires everyone who encounters it.”
Listings information:
Frida: The Making of an Icon
25 June 2026 – 3 January 2027
Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
Open daily 10.00–18.00, and until 21.00 every Friday and Saturday
Tickets available at tate.org.uk and +44(0)20 7887 8888
Free for Members. Join at tate.org.uk/members
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