San Francisco Revives the Legacy of Frida Kahlo

Kahlo first came to San Francisco in the 1930s with Diego Rivera. She stayed at the America Building near Chinatown and took it upon herself to explore the city on her own. In letters to her mother, she wrote about her visits to the market and Fisherman's Wharf, as well as her fascination with the ocean, which she had never seen before.

Her connection with the Chinese community was key to developing her aesthetic identity. Kahlo observed traditional costumes and the mix of different nationalities, which led her to embrace wearing Mexican clothing while combining it with conventional Chinese silks. This fusion caught the attention of local photographers, who held numerous sessions with her. Familiar with photography from her father's work, Kahlo even set her own financial terms for posing.

During this period, she also met female artists who later connected her to exhibitions in Washington, D.C. and Europe. In addition, she began medical treatment with Dr. Leo Eloesser, who addressed her chronic physical ailments.

A decade later, Kahlo returned to San Francisco after the assassination of Leon Trotsky in Mexico. She was again treated by Dr. Eloesser, who recommended that Rivera move her to the city for prolonged treatment.

During this second stay, Frida and Diego remarried at San Francisco's City Hall. In letters to her sister Cristina, she expressed a renewed artistic and vital enthusiasm. By this time, her international recognition had grown, and her connections with the city's creative community were stronger. Objects she acquired in Chinatown and references to this period are now part of museum collections that will be on display as part of the new tourist experiences.

With this program, San Francisco aims to highlight Frida Kahlo's legacy and her relationship with the city while offering visitors from Mexico, the United States, and other countries new cultural and culinary routes that connect art history withthe tourist experience.

Continuing through September, October, and part of November, San Francisco will offer activities related to Frida Kahlo, organized in collaboration with local institutions and businesses.

Highlights include:

Dining Experiences

• Loló restaurant in the Mission District will offer a special menu inspired by the painter.
• China Live in Chinatown will launch a Red Clipping Menu that fuses Chinese and Mexican cuisine, referencing the cultural influence Kahlo experienced there.

Museums and Exhibitions

• SFMOMA will exhibit works by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo as part of its permanent collection.
• Big Bus Tours: These tours will include references to Kahlo's history
• Boudin Bakery in Fisherman's Wharf will present sourdough bread loaves decorated with Kahlo's image, connecting the bakery to the area the artist frequented.