The New York Botanical Garden has struck gold with this exhibition, which is set to break all previous attendance records, and is a brilliant tribute to the amazing artist.
“Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life” at the NYBG is expected to cross the 500,000 visitors mark, which is even more than the Monet Exhibition in 2012, which attracted 373,000 people. The show began on May 16, and closes on November 1, and is designed in a manner that taps into the artist’s relationship with the botanical world.
Even with Kahlo’s reputation as a feminist, Hispanic and queer hero, the festival has seen unprecedented traffic. The exhibition is Kahlo’s home, Casa Azul in New Mexico, reimagined. Visitors can see over a dozen paintings when they walk in. But the reason the exhibition is so attractive and qualifies as a festival dedicated to the artist is the other themed events organised at the venue, likeΒ Frida Kahlo lookalike contests, poetry readings and lectures. There are alsoΒ recurring Frida al Fresco evenings, in which the exhibition is open late with music, cocktails and Mexican food.
In the exhibitionβs final weekends β Oct. 24 to 25 and Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 β the garden will also celebrate DΓa de los Muertos, complete with a Frida Kahlo altar.
(All images via:Β www.nybg.org/frida/ and The New York Botanical Garden/Facebook)