Ana Mendieta
‘FRIDA: THE MAKING OF AN ICON’, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON
19 January – 17 May 2026
Ana Mendieta’s work is included in Frida: The Making of an Icon, opening at MFAH in January 2026. This monumental exhibition features more than 30 works by the legendary Mexican artist and 120 by five generations of artists she inspired.
Practically unknown to mainstream audiences during her lifetime (1907–1954), Kahlo has been enshrined since the mid-1970s as the only female artist whose instant audience recognition and mass appeal rival those of male artists. Since the 1980s, retrospective exhibitions around the world have explored Kahlo’s artistic production and contributions to 20th-century Modernism. By contrast, Frida: The Making of an Icon is the first major exploration of the artist’s transformation from a relatively unknown local painter to a universal icon and global brand. Departing from the traditional retrospective format, the exhibition revolves around a selection of Kahlo’s masterworks, memorabilia, and documents from her archives, as well as a vast array of works from artists across artistic and social movements who were inspired by her practice. A special gallery addresses the status of Kahlo’s legacy as a pop-culture figure.