The story behind the artwork
To celebrate the opening of the Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum this summer, the museum has commissioned Kristjana to create a print that pays homage to the beloved Mexican artist.
It takes inspiration from Kahlo’s work and the detailed and colourful style of Mexican folk culture. ‘Frida loved flowers often wearing them in her hair and had a deep affinity for animals,’ says Williams. ‘These motifs are the lifeblood of my work too, so it has been moving and inspiring to weave together both our styles.’
The portrait
The face is modeled on a Mexican skull (a recurrent theme in Kristjana’s work too) and is encircled by a mirror frame, because much of Kahlo’s work takes the form of a self-portrait. Similarly, the wheelchair she would sit in to study her reflection is tangled in the artist’s hair. ‘I wanted to represent Frida’s face because it relates to questions of identity. Who was she? What inspired her? And how does her body of work reflect her Mexican culture and heritage?’ says Kristjana.
Beneath this face, which hangs in a Mexican sky, are two cats. ‘They represent the duality in Frida’s life,’ she explains. ‘Her double origins (father and mother) and the two sides of her, the one Diego her longtime lover adored and the one he didn’t.’
Artwork details
Process printed in England, on 310 gsm, GF Smith Action Clear Blue Sky paper, which gives the artwork a beautiful shimmery finish. For the true colours of the design to work when printing on this coloured shimmer paper, twelve layers of white are printed before printing the final coloured layer. All prints come with a physical Certificate of Authenticity.
Edition of 175, signed and numbered by the artist.
Print size:
XS - 29.7 cm x 42 cm
Our prints are professionally cut by hand in our studio, therefore sizes can vary by mm.
Delivery & Returns
We offer free worldwide delivery on all Limited Edition print orders.
Limited Edition prints are delivered within 7–10 working days.
For orders shipped outside the United Kingdom, UK VAT is not charged.
International shipments may be subject to import VAT, customs duties, and clearance or handling fees imposed by the destination country. These charges are the responsibility of the recipient and are typically payable to the courier or customs authority prior to delivery. We are unable to predict or control any such charges. All customs documentation is completed accurately, and the full value of goods is declared in compliance with international shipping regulations.
For information on our returns policy click here.