Rare photos will illuminate the fiery and unconventional relationship between two of Mexico’s most famous artists
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Dalí Museum invites visitors to delve into the lives of one of the most fascinating – and tumultuous – couples in the history of art. Mexican artists Diego Rivera (1886-1957) and Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) were married, divorced and remarried, and their relationship was fraught with both conflict and deep affection. Diego & Frida: A Visual History will be on view from Sept. 5, 2020-Jan. 3, 2021.
More than 60 reproductions of rare historical photographs will offer a personal look into the vibrant world of Rivera and Kahlo’s rich and harrowing 25-year relationship. The images, captured by their friends and family including Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Nickolas Muray, Edward Weston, Guillermo Kahlo and others, showcase their upbringing, family histories, professional careers and more, culminating with the last known photograph of the couple.
“It is fascinating to see the lives of artists like Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo through the discerning eyes of their close family and friends,” said Curator of Education and exhibition curator Peter Tush. “This visual documentary serves as an extension of the publicly acclaimed Frida Kahlo at The Dalí exhibit in 2017. We see the couple’s rich journey together as they became icons of the difficult changes in 20th century culture.”
Their individual artistic talents and powerful union helped Rivera and Kahlo become prominent figures of the time and one of the most provocative and recognized couples in the world of art. Rivera was known for his large-scale murals that ushered in a new era of fresco painting in Latin America; Kahlo for her colorful and intense self-portraits. While Rivera’s fame was established during his life, Kahlo became most famous after her death, as her life story of injury, illness and her struggle with alcohol and drugs found a receptive audience.
Diego & Frida: A Visual History is on display in the Raymond James Community Room. This exhibit is on loan from The Consulate of Mexico in Orlando and is made possible by the Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo.
Related Programs and Events
The Dalí has organized programming to accompany the special exhibition Diego & Frida: A Visual History. All events are virtual and free to the public.
Netflix Watch Party
Thursday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m. via Netflix Party; Free for Netflix subscribers
Attendees will engage in an artist-inspired conversation while streaming Julie Taymor’s biopic Frida, prior to the public opening of Diego & Frida: A Visual History. At the end of the movie, Curator of Education, Peter Tush, will be available for Q&A.
Keeping Culture Alive: Stories from the Diaspora
Thursday, Sept. 24, 6 p.m. via Zoom; Free
This lively panel discussion will explore the myriad ways and reasons why people remain connected to their home cultures while living in a new country. Panelists will delve into traditions, food, friendships and more, concluding with Q&A. This discussion (held on Zoom) is taking place in collaboration with SPIFFS (St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society).
Coffee with a Curator
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 10:30 a.m. via The Museum YouTube channel; Free
This special streaming installment of the Museum’s Coffee with a Curator series features a presentation of Diego and Frida: A Visual History by Curator of Education, Peter Tush. During this talk, the photos of the exhibit will be contextualized with the art that Rivera and Kahlo were producing through their three decades together, and the stories of their troubled co-existence as they crossed paths with many of the most important figures from the early 20th century.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
Thursday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. (English) and 6 p.m. (Spanish) via Zoom; Free
A celebration to mark the end of National Hispanic Heritage Month, these events (held on Zoom) will take place in two parts – first in English and then in Spanish. Attendees can view a virtual tour of the Diego & Frida: A Visual History exhibition and a sharing of written reflections on heritage and culture. This event is taking place in partnership with the Hispanic Outreach Center.
Currently at The Dalí
Dalí’s Sacred Science – Religion and Mysticism presents five mixed-media print suites, rarely displayed works from the Museum’s vault, Mythology, Don Quixote, Aliyah, Moses and Monotheism and The Alchemy of the Philosophers. Created during Dalí’s later period when the artist turned his mind to the scientific and the spiritual, the suites build on ideas originally explored in Dalí’s 1951 Manifeste Mystique. Written texts by Dalí and Sigmund Freud accompany the visual works. The exhibit is on display now through Nov. 1 in the Hough Family Wing.
At Home with Dalí features a diverse group of portraits by five photographers – Horst P. Horst, Ricardo Sans, Melitó Casals, Lies Wiegman and Robert Descharnes. The 40 images, dating from the 1950s and early 1960s, provide an intimate view of Dalí in his home environment in Spain. The artist is seen climbing on the rocks of Costa Brava with his wife Gala, relaxing in his Port Lligat home, working on paintings in his studio and much more. The exhibit is on display in the Wittner Gallery of the Tom & Mary James Wing.
Health and Safety at The Dalí
The Dalí continues to implement procedures to help protect the health and safety of visitors, volunteers, members and staff. The Museum is operating at reduced capacity via timed ticketing and has reinforced physical distancing reminders throughout the Museum. All staff and visitors are required to wear masks and have a thermal temperature check upon entering the building. Plexi-screens and hand-sanitizer stations are placed in key locations. All payments at admissions, parking, store and café must be via credit card only. More information about The Dalí’s safety precautions can be found at TheDali.org/safety.
About The Dalí Museum
The Dalí Museum, located in the heart of picturesque downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to an unparalleled collection of over 2,400 Salvador Dalí works, including nearly 300 oil paintings, watercolors and drawings, as well as more than 2,100 prints, photographs, posters, textiles, sculptures and objets d’art. The Museum’s nonprofit mission, to care for and share its collection locally and internationally, is grounded by a commitment to education and sustained by a culture of philanthropy.
The Dalí is recognized internationally by the Michelin Guide with a three-star rating; has been deemed “one of the top buildings to see in your lifetime” by AOL Travel News; and named one of the ten most interesting museums in the world by Architectural Digest. The building itself is a work of art, including a geodesic glass bubble, nicknamed The Enigma, featuring 1,062 triangular glass panels, a fitting tribute to Salvador Dalí’s legacy of innovation and transformation. Explore The Dalí anytime with the free Dalí Museum App, available on Google Play and in the App Store. The Dalí Museum is located at One Dalí Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701.
For more information visit TheDali.org.
