Mexican painter Frida Kahlo has set a new world record as her painting 'The Dream (The Bed)' sold for $54.7 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York. This surrealistic self-portrait from 1940 has become the most expensive artwork ever created by a female artist, surpassing the previous record held by Georgia O'Keeffe. The painting, depicting Frida asleep under a canopy with a skeleton floating above, was sold in just a few minutes, far exceeding expectations. Interest in Kahlo extends far beyond aesthetics. For critics and museums, she was a pioneer who explored identity, illness, sexual freedom, and politics from a personal and transgressive perspective. Her personality has been adopted as a banner for feminism, disability, sexual freedom, and Mexican culture. The painting will embark on an extensive international tour, starting with an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York in 2026, followed by a show at the Tate Modern in London in 2026-2027.
