After Frida Kahlo died in 1954, her husband Diego Rivera shut her belongings in a bathroom at their Mexico City home, the Blue House – then demanded it be locked until 15 years after his death. In fact, the room wasn’t opened until 2004, when Ishiuchi Miyako photographed its intimate contents. Here are the artists’ beloved belongings, from sunglasses to handpainted corsets.
Frida by Ishiuchi Miyako is at Michael Hoppen Gallery, London SW3, from May 14 - July 12
Classic cats-eye glasses worn by Kahlo
Kahlo’s right leg was thinner than her left after childhood polio – and it was later fractured in 11 places when she had a horrific bus accident in her 20s. As a result, she wore long, traditional Tehuana dresses that concealed her lower body
Kahlo’s fringed boots, the right one with a stacked heel
The artist’s makeup compact
Orchids to You and another nail polish
Bathing suit in mint green
After her bus accident, Kahlo was in a full body cast for three months, and she remained in pain for the rest of her life. She painted her casts and corsets, turning them from medical equipment into artworks
Kahlo’s friends noted that the more pain she felt, and the more incapacitated she became, the more elaborate her outfits were
Kahlo’s leg was amputated in 1953. She designed this prosthetic leg with embroidered red lace-up boots and a bell attached
One of the corsets worn by Kahlo
A skirt of green silk and lace attached to a body corset