In the heart of Mexico City’s colorful Coyoacán district stands a house that has witnessed a remarkable slice of art history. Built in 1904 by Hungarian-German immigrant Guillermo Kahlo, this home became more than a family residence—it became the birthplace of an artistic legacy. Guillermo, a skilled photographer of Mexico’s colonial architecture, nurtured a creative atmosphere that would influence his daughter, Frida Kahlo, one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century. In his darkroom, a young Frida helped develop photos and retouch negatives, unknowingly laying the groundwork for her own creative journey.
As Frida matured, she made this house—known affectionately as the Casa Azul for its striking cobalt-blue walls—her own. Living there with her husband, the famed muralist Diego Rivera, the house became a cultural salon. Intellectuals and artists such as Leon Trotsky, Henry Moore, and André Breton passed through its doors. After Frida’s death in 1954, the residence was eventually transformed into the Museo Frida Kahlo in 1958. Today, it remains one of Mexico’s most visited museums, rivaling even the National Museum of Anthropology.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Last night, from a historic Manhattan townhouse once owned by John D. Rockefeller Jr., a new chapter in Kahlo’s story was unveiled: the opening of Museo Casa Kahlo—or “Casa Roja”—set for September 27. Located adjacent to the original Casa Azul, this new museum occupies a home with equally rich personal roots. Once owned by Frida’s parents and later purchased by Frida for her beloved sister Cristina and her family, Casa Roja will offer an intimate portrait of the artist’s life from the inside out.
“Cristina was by her side through so much,” explains Frida Hentschel Romeo, Kahlo’s great-grand-niece. “She traveled with Frida to her first major show in New York, stayed close during surgeries and recovery—it’s impossible to understand Frida without understanding Cristina.”
Frida’s closest living descendants—Mara Romeo Kahlo (Cristina’s granddaughter and Frida’s grand-niece), her daughter Mara Deanda Kahlo, and Hentschel Romeo—have taken on the mission of ensuring that Frida’s legacy is told with heart and authenticity. “This museum isn’t just about her work,” says Hentschel Romeo. “It’s about her world. About the people who shaped her, and about us, the family who continues to carry her spirit forward.”
The museum will showcase never-before-seen personal items, drawing visitors closer to the private Frida than ever before. These include childhood photos, letters, dolls, jewelry, clothing, and even a piece of embroidery she made at the age of five. Among the most moving items on display will be Frida’s very first oil painting—the one she nervously showed to Diego Rivera to ask if she had what it took to become a painter. According to Hentschel Romeo, “Seeing it in person is incredibly emotional.”
Adding further excitement, the museum will unveil a newly discovered mural believed to be the only one Kahlo ever created—a priceless addition to the artist’s known body of work.
The choice of New York for this announcement is no coincidence. The Schwarzman residence, once the Rockefellers’ home, carries its own connection to Frida and Diego. The Rockefellers were not only major patrons of the couple but also close friends—Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, in particular, was dear to Kahlo.
Casa Roja’s mission goes beyond retrospection. It aims to illuminate Kahlo’s formative years and the intimate relationships that informed her art. It also seeks to be a living space, hosting contemporary exhibitions and spotlighting emerging local talent. This blend of past and present reflects the multifaceted nature of Kahlo herself—an artist who turned pain into power and embraced life in all its complexity.
“This is a dream long held by our family,” said Mara Romeo Kahlo. “Frida’s legacy belongs to the world, but it begins here—on this land, in these homes, and in the culture that shaped her. Museo Casa Kahlo will allow us to tell new stories, share family secrets, host new voices, and build a future that honors her spirit.”
For fans of Kahlo and art lovers alike, the opening of Casa Roja is more than an invitation to see her belongings—it’s a rare opportunity to step into the living fabric of her story. A story told not just through canvas, but through family, memory, and the enduring power of home.
