Fridamania takes over London

London will celebrate the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo this summer with a city-wide programme of public art, installations and cultural activations, coinciding with Tate Modern’s major exhibition, Frida: The Making of an Icon. Opening to the public on 25 June, the exhibition has already become the highest pre-selling show in Tate’s history with more than 35,000 tickets already sold, reinforcing Kahlo’s status as one of the most influential and widely recognised artists of the 20th century. In response to this unprecedented demand, partners across the capital have come together to extend the exhibition’s themes beyond the gallery walls, bringing Kahlo’s image, ideas and enduring influence onto the streets of London.

Unveiled today are six large-scale public murals around Bankside, created by emerging artists aged under 25, in response to Kahlo’s extraordinary life and legacy. From a monumental floor-based intervention to paintings spanning the area’s iconic railway arches, they mark the second iteration of Beyond Boundaries - a collaboration between Better Bankside and Tate Collective, Tate’s scheme for 16-25-year-olds worldwide, with support from Oxford Properties, aimed at connecting passers-by with creativity, community and the world around them. Due to remain in place for several years, each mural explores different facets of Kahlo’s identity, including her feminism, Mexican heritage, queerness and experience of disability, carrying her fearless spirit forward through the voices and perspectives of a new generation. The selected artists and artworks include:

• Amy Almeida with Paisajes Mexicanos (Mexican Landscapes), celebrating Kahlo’s heritage and the nation she championed, whilst highlighting the environmental devastation caused by oil drilling.
• Eddie Donaldson with Dining Table, using collage to explore vulnerability and the negotiation of pain, inspired by Kahlo’s radical honesty.
• Milena De Rosa with Tea Break (Expanded), an intimate depiction of a quiet domestic moment with her mother, responding to Kahlo’s approach to self-portraiture and symbolic use of animal motifs.
• Helena Samarasinghe with Rooted in Play, exploring representation and diversity in women’s football, reflecting Mexico’s global cultural presence coinciding with this year’s World Cup.
• Gloria da Silva, with Long Live London, paying tribute to Kahlo’s final painting - Viva La Vida - through sign language, offering a joyful celebration of the diversity of London
• Sharoola, with Here and Now, exploring the question of what makes a person who the are, influenced by Kahlo’s approach to depicting identity, personal experience and cultural history.

Over in the heart of Soho, ¡Frida Icónica!, a spectacular installation on Carnaby Street, will transform the legendary London district into a vibrant canvas with a colourful display of public art inspired by Kahlo’s extraordinary vision. Launching to coincide with Pride month and the opening of Frida: The Making of an Icon on 25 June, garlands of traditional papel picado – the intricate Mexican art of decorative paper cutting - designed by Mexican artist Alejandra Ballesteros, will cascade down the street, featuring motifs and scenes inspired by Kahlo’s life and work. At its heart, an anamorphic mural composed from artworks by contemporary artists will reveal Kahlo’s recognisable profile when viewed head-on.

Paying homage to Kahlo’s keen interest in self-portraiture, visitors to London will encounter her iconic image across the capital in the months ahead, from the screens in Piccadilly Circus to the walls around Blackfriars station. Reimagining Kahlo’s Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird 1940 through the eyes of contemporary artists she has inspired, together these public artworks serve as a lasting legacy of Kahlo’s impact on the city.

Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “Frida Kahlo was an extraordinary artist, activist and style icon, recognised across the globe. So, we’re very excited to celebrate her across the capital with major murals and installations, showcasing our talented young artists. Public art brings our urban landscape to life - sparking conversations and bringing communities together with free access to culture for all as we build a better London for everyone”

Catherine Wood, Interim Director of Tate Modern said: “The extraordinary demand for Frida Kahlo is testament to the enduring power of her story and her work, which continues to resonate across cultures and communities, and inspire new generations of artists. Tate Modern is thrilled to be leading a summer-long programme in the city. Positioning Frida as an artist for 21st century London, we will offer audiences multiple entry points into her world - from the intimate space of the gallery to the shared experience of the public realm.”

Nicole Gordon, Better Bankside CEO, said: Bankside is a place where people have come to experience culture for over 1,000 years. The upcoming Frida Kahlo exhibition presented an unmissable opportunity to collaborate with our long-standing partner, Tate Modern, to create an ‘only in Bankside’ experience. Bringing bold, unexpected moments of art into the streets, the Beyond Boundaries’ murals capture the energy and creativity that make our neighbourhood special. Another great excuse to get lost in London’s ‘other side’.

Briony Meyers, Associate Director, UK at Oxford Properties Group, said: “We are especially proud to be delivering the Sumner Street floor mural as part of this vibrant community-led project in collaboration with Better Bankside and Tate Collective. It’s a fantastic opportunity to build stronger relationships with our neighbours, support creative initiatives in the area, and help bring the spirit of Frida Kahlo into the public realm.”

Gloria Da Silva, artist featured in Beyond Boundaries, said: ‘‘It has a been a pleasure working on this mural honouring Frida Kahlo, an iconic female queer artist who was unapologetically vulnerable in her artwork. Despite living a tumultuous life, Frida’s level of resilience and commitment to painting by any means necessary is deeply inspiring, both to my own practice and that of artists around the world.”

Catherine Riccomini, Director of Marketing and Communications at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Bringing ¡Frida Icónica! to Carnaby Street is about creating a moment of joy and discovery – the kind of shared cultural experience that makes Soho and Carnaby Street unlike anywhere else in London. With creativity and self-expression at its heart, Carnaby Street is a natural home for a celebration of Frida Kahlo's enduring artistic legacy and the richness of Mexican artistry and heritage. Through partnerships like this, we can bring world-class cultural moments beyond traditional venues and into the everyday experience of the city, creating new opportunities for people to engage with art, culture and each other.”