Summary
A Frida Kahlo self-portrait from 1940 sold for $54.7 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York, setting a new record for the most expensive artwork by a female artist sold at auction. The painting was previously held in a private collection and surpassed the previous record set by Georgia O'Keeffe's work in 2014.
Key Facts
- Frida Kahlo's 1940 self-portrait sold for $54.7 million.
- It is the highest auction price for a work by any female artist.
- The painting topped the previous record of $44.4 million held by Georgia O’Keeffe.
- The sale also set a record for a Kahlo painting at auction, surpassing her previous high of $34.9 million.
- The self-portrait was part of a private collection and could be legally sold internationally.
- Kahlo's works in Mexico are declared national treasures and cannot be sold or destroyed abroad.
- The buyer's identity has not been disclosed.
- This painting was part of a broader auction of surrealist art, which included works by Salvador Dalí and others.
