Frida Kahlo at the SF MOMA

I lucked out with an invitation to the press preview of the Frida Kahlo exhibition. My good friend is an editor at a magazine and I was her tag-along “+1.”  After comped admission and a delicious luncheon (complete with margaritas), I feel compelled to give back a little and spread the word about this enchanting show. 

To observe a Frida Kahlo self-portrait with her singularly poised gaze, is one way of understanding this complex woman, but the MOMA exhibition goes beyond that and offers an opportunity to journey through the years of her life and the progression of her pain, both emotional and physical. 

Another notable feature of the exhibit is the inclusion of photographs from Frida’s own collection.  These portraits of Frida, her husband Diego Rivera, her family and friends complement and contextualize Frida’s self-portraiture. 

The exhibit runs through September 28th but be sure to plan ahead, especially during weekends and peak hours.  The museum is implementing timed-ticketing for this exhibit in order to better accommodate the expected high-volume of visitors without compromising the experience.  Many of the exhibit’s paintings are small and controlled flow of traffic will allow visitors a more intimate experience with Kahlo’s work.