A major Frida Kahlo exhibition is coming to Tate Modern in 2026. Frida: The Making of an Icon will offer a rare opportunity to explore the personal and professional life of one of the 20th century’s most recognisable artists.

Bringing together paintings, drawings, letters, and photographs, the exhibition will trace Kahlo’s artistic evolution — from early portraits to her iconic self-portraits filled with symbolism and emotional intensity. It also looks at how Kahlo crafted her image through fashion, photography, and politics, becoming a global icon of resilience, identity, and creative expression.

Among Frida Kahlo’s most recognisable subjects, it is her self-portraits that remain the most iconic — a powerful reflection of her life, identity, and enduring symbolism. Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940) is a small but striking example, rich with personal and cultural meaning. Let’s take a closer look at the details that make this work so emblematic of Kahlo’s artistic voice.

Suffering and endurance

Kahlo’s art is inseparable from her experience of physical and emotional pain. In this work, a thorn necklace digs into her neck, drawing blood — a quiet but potent reference to her lifelong injuries following a near-fatal bus accident as a teenager. The motif evokes religious martyrdom, particularly the crown of thorns, suggesting a spiritualised endurance of suffering. Yet her expression remains composed and unwavering, confronting the viewer without self-pity. This balance between vulnerability and strength recurs throughout her work, positioning pain not as a weakness but as something borne with dignity, even defiance.

The construction of self

Frida Kahlo did not simply depict herself — she constructed herself. In this portrait, she appears in traditional Tehuana dress, associated with matriarchal Zapotec culture in Oaxaca, which she frequently wore as a statement of national pride and political identity. Her chosen style fused personal history with cultural symbolism, rejecting Western ideals of femininity in favour of something distinctly her own. Kahlo’s self-presentation, both in life and in her paintings, was deeply intentional. It was through this visual language — braided hair, embroidered garments, bold eyebrows — that she asserted both her individuality and her solidarity with Mexico’s indigenous heritage.

Nature and symbolism

Kahlo’s work is rich in symbolism, often drawn from the natural world and infused with layers of personal and cultural meaning. In this painting, the black cat behind her may symbolise bad luck or death, while the monkey — a gift from Rivera — is a recurring figure in her art, at times playful, at times possessive. The lifeless hummingbird hanging from her necklace, often a symbol of hope or vitality in Mexican folklore, contrasts with its traditional meaning, suggesting thwarted love or spiritual stillness. These symbols operate on multiple levels: personal mementos, folkloric references, and emotional signposts. Nature in Kahlo’s hands is never neutral; it is a charged space where memory, myth and emotion converge.