Life and Work of Frida Kahlo

Step into the world of one of the most significant artists of the 20^th century at The Reel Store. Known for her vivid artwork, iconic style and extraordinary life, Frida Kahlo is an inspiration to many.

Based on the artist’s diary, this award-winning, multi-sensory experience tells Kahlo’s story from a new perspective – in her own words.

Suitable for all ages, the UK premiere of the Life and Work of Frida Kahlo combines a 360-degree projection, original soundtrack and hands-on display which place YOU at the heart of the exhibition.

Beyond her iconic masterpieces and popular perceptions, the immersive experience takes you on an unforgettable journey of resilience, hope and bravery.

Conceived, designed, and produced by international exhibition producer Acciona Cultura in collaboration with the Frida Kahlo Trust, the exhibition combines academic research with an immersive spectacle that places visitors at the centre of the experience. The curatorial team behind the exhibition was led by Roxana Velásquez, Executive Director of the San Diego Museum of Art, and Deidré Guevara, Curator of the exhibition Frida and I at the Georges Pompidou Museum in Paris.

PLEASE NOTE: This exhibition includes flashing imagery which may affect those with photosensitive epilepsy. The projection contains some strong language, nudity, and mention of injury.

Email [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

Making of Life and Work of Frida Kahlo was created by Acciona Cultural Engineering and shows the exhibition in Madrid. 

Audio guides are available for the gallery and exhibition, including an introduction and audio description of Life and Work of Frida Kahlo.

Discover our audio guides

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is a Mexican artist known for her vivid artwork, iconic style and extraordinary life. Her paintings are autobiographical and represent her personal beliefs, feelings and life events in the way that she saw them, defying the art worlds traditional gender roles. It's impossible to talk about her work without mentioning her life.

Kahlo is now one of the world’s most iconic figures and an inspiration to many, often due to how people can identify with one or more aspects of the painter's life. Yet, the emphasis has been on her continuous suffering and tormented love story. Her personality, intelligence, creative journey, and the role she played in society have often been forgotten.

Life and Work of Frida Kahlo is a contemporary revision of the artist. A unique experience that expands beyond what most people think they know about her character and inviting us to explore a new and fascinating side of the celebrated Mexican painter through different parts of her identify: as a woman, painter, and icon.

The teams that created the Life and Work of Frida Kahlo took a lot of care to bring Frida’s personality into the exhibition. By referencing her artworks and personal journey, they present an experience that enhances Frida's work as a captivating blend of inspiration, drama, and rich symbolism.

Frida put herself into her art, offering us a vivid presentation of her origins, politics, emotions and body constraints. Themes of resilience and enjoyment of life are present across Frida’s work – a philosophy that transcends her time.

Black and white image showing Frida Kahlo sitting on a chair facing the camera. Image Credit: D.R.© 2021 Banco de México Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Trust. Av. Cinco de Mayo No. 2, Col. Centro, Del. Cuauhtémoc 06059, Mexico, D.F.

ACCIONA Cultura is a global interdisciplinary company specializing in design and production of innovative and sustainable exhibitions, museums, pavilions for International Expositions and cultural events. It has coined the term ‘cultural engineering’ to describe their work, as the study, analysis, and strategic planning of cultural solutions in their social, economic, and political environment.

Since 1992, Acciona Cultura has contributed to the creation of 150 exhibitions, 80 world-class museums and 20,000 cultural events in more than 40 countries, in five continents. In addition to an extensive planning and design experience, Acciona Cultura has made an important contribution to the development of sustainable practices in exhibition planning and production, achieving carbon neutrality in 2016. With Life and Work of Frida Kahlo, ACCIONA Cultura sets out to lead the technological revolution in the cultural world, thus creating a new genre that explores the boundaries between cinema, art, theatre, and spectacle, while placing the visitor at the centre of the experience.