Carnaby Street set to be transformed with public-art takeover in celebration of a true revolutionary, as ‘Frida: The Making of an Icon’ launches at Tate Modern this June
A spectacular Frida Kahlo installation is coming to Carnaby Street this summer. ¡Frida Icónica! will be unveiled on 25th June, transforming the legendary London district into a vibrant canvas with a colourful and breathtaking display of public art. Inspired by Kahlo’s extraordinary vision and Mexican heritage, the installation is in collaboration with Tate Modern’s anticipated exhibition, Frida: The Making of an Icon.
Carnaby Street’s ¡Frida Icónica! will consist of an anamorphic mural and vibrant, traditional papel picado designed by artist Alejandra Ballesteros. The mural, measuring approximately 3.25m x 2.5m, is composed from four portraits by Frida and contemporary artists, which come together to form her iconic profile when viewed head-on. Surrounding this striking image, reems of Papel picado, or ‘pierced paper’, a staple of Mexican folk art, will cascade and flutter down Carnaby Street, highlighting motifs and themes central to Frida’s life and work.
Frida was a queer, disabled woman of colour who became one of the most influential artists of all time. Soho, with its heritage of culture, diversity and creativity, has always made a natural home for pioneers of the avant-garde. It is a poignant space for a tribute to a figure of such stature, especially at a time when London will be celebrating Pride.
The installation will kick-start a summer-long celebration of the legacy of Frida Kahlo across London. Soho and Carnaby Street will come alive with a programme of events and experiences, from special menus and offers celebrating the most vibrant Central and South American flavours across restaurants and bars.
Opening concurrently, Frida: The Making of an Icon at Tate Modern will bring together over 30 works by Kahlo, presented in dialogue with modern and contemporary artists from across the globe who have drawn influence from her aesthetic, identity and biography. Together they reveal how Kahlo’s remarkable story continues to be reimagined and reclaimed by new generations, celebrating her enduring and evolving impact and cementing her place as one of the most influential figures in the history of art.
Bringing ¡Frida Icónica! to Carnaby Street is about creating a moment of joy and discovery – a shared cultural experience for London that makes Soho and Carnaby Street unlike anywhere else in London. We are proud to be working with Tate Modern, one of the UK’s most-loved cultural institutions to bring this extraordinary celebration of Frida Kahlo’s life, art and legacy to the city. ¡Frida Icónica! is a tribute to Frida Kahlo’s spirit and the richness of Mexican artistry and heritage, and we hope it inspires everyone who encounters it.
CATHERINE RICCOMINI – DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS AT SHAFTESBURY CAPITAL
Tate exists to champion artists, and we passionately believe that everyone should have the right to access art for free. We are thrilled to be collaborating with Carnaby Street to help bring the remarkable work of Frida Kahlo into the creative heart of London, offering even more people the opportunity to discover her extraordinary journey from a little-known Mexican painter to a worldwide cultural phenomenon.
CATHERINE WOOD – INTERIM DIRECTOR OF TATE MODERN
Frida Kahlo’s fearless celebration of identity and her unflinching portrayal of her personal struggles, speaks to so many different groups and generations. Bringing together key works from across her career alongside artists from around the globe, Tate Modern’s exhibition delves into these narratives to explore her undeniable impact on contemporary art today. It feels fitting that Carnaby Street - a space with an equally rich history of championing radical voices - will pay homage to Frida’s vibrant and enduring legacy.
TOBIAS OSTRANDER – CURATOR OF FRIDA: THE MAKING OF AN ICON AT TATE MODERN
Notes to editors
Frida: The Making of an Icon
25 June 2026 – 3 January 2027
Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TJ
Tickets available at tate.org.uk and +44(0)20 7887 8888
Free for Members. Join at tate.org.uk/members
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Frida: The Making of an Icon is organised by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in collaboration with Tate Modern. The exhibition is in partnership with Lead Global Supporter, Bank of America. Supported by John J. Studzinski CBE. Further support from The Dyers' Company. With additional support from the Frida: Making of an Icon Supporters Circle and Tate Members.
Artworks featured in the anamorphic mural:
Nickolas Muray, Frida Kahlo on a White Bench, New York 1939, printed 2024 (detail). Museum of Fine Arts Houston, MFAH 2024.659 © Nickolas Muray Photo Archives.
Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird 1940 (detail). Harry Ransom Center, Nickolas Muray Collection of Mexican Art, 66.6.
Yasumasa Morimura, An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo (Hand Shaped Earring) 2001 (detail). Minneapolis Institute of Art © Yasumasa Morimura; Courtesy of the artist, Luhring Augustine, New York, and Yoshiko Isshiki Office, Tokyo
Richard Duardo, Frida Grandisima 2003 (detail). Courtesy of Melissa Richardson Banks © The Estate of Richard Duardo.
Shaftesbury Capital
Shaftesbury Capital PLC is the leading central London mixed-use Real Estate Investment Trust and is a constituent of the FTSE-250 Index. Our property portfolio under management, valued at £5.4 billion, extends to 2.8 million square feet of lettable space across the most vibrant areas of London's West End. With a diverse mix of shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, residential apartments and offices, our destinations include the high footfall, thriving neighbourhoods of Covent Garden, Carnaby, Soho and Chinatown. Our properties are close to the main West End Underground stations and transport hubs for the Elizabeth Line. Shaftesbury Capital shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange ("LSE") (primary) and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange ("JSE") (secondary) and the A2X (secondary).
About Soho
Soho is a world-famous shopping and dining destination in the heart of London’s West End, synonymous with culture, creativity and innovation. Made up of one square mile of vibrant interconnecting streets including the globally renowned Carnaby Street, it’s home to a multidimensional mix of international flagships, independent boutiques and innovative, new concept stores. The epicentre of London’s dining scene, its unique day-to-night hospitality offer comprises high-quality restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs.
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About Tate
Tate celebrates the world’s greatest modern and contemporary art, as well as the best of British art from 1500 to today. Every year it welcomes millions of people to its four galleries – Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives – to enjoy unforgettable exhibitions, spectacular commissions and unique events. At the heart of these activities is a growing collection of over 70,000 works of art, ranging from paintings and sculptures to installations and performances. Tate cares for this collection on behalf of the public and, as one of the world’s biggest lenders of art, shares it with museums and galleries throughout the UK and across the globe. For more information, visit tate.org.uk
About Tate Modern
Tate Modern is the world’s most popular museum of modern and contemporary art. It is free to visit and open to all, welcoming millions of people each year. The museum’s collection displays span 100 years of art by renowned artists from around the world, presented alongside a diverse and international programme of exhibitions, commissions and events. For more information, visit tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern