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Frida Kahlo’s Record-Breaking $55M Self-Portrait Shatters Auction Milestones

Source: Frida Kahlo self-portrait sells for $55m, setting auction record for a female artist (2025-11-21)

In a historic auction event, Frida Kahlo’s iconic self-portrait “El sueño (la cama)” sold for a staggering $55 million, setting a new record for a work by a female artist and elevating her status in the global art market. This surrealist masterpiece, created during a tumultuous period in Kahlo’s life, depicts her asleep in a canopy bed beneath a skeleton entwined with dynamite, symbolizing her emotional and physical struggles. The painting’s sale not only broke previous records—surpassing the $44 million mark set in 2021 for her work—but also highlights the increasing recognition of female artists in the contemporary art scene. The auction, held by Sotheby’s, saw fierce bidding between collectors, with the piece fetching over 1,000 times its original 1980 auction price of $51,000. Kahlo’s work, renowned for its psychological depth and raw honesty, continues to resonate globally, with recent developments including a major retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, a surge in Kahlo-inspired fashion collaborations, and a growing appreciation for her influence on contemporary feminist art. Additionally, her paintings have been increasingly featured in digital art platforms, with NFTs of her works gaining significant attention. Kahlo’s legacy endures as a symbol of resilience, identity, and artistic innovation, inspiring new generations of artists and collectors alike. The record-breaking sale underscores her enduring relevance and the rising valuation of her profound, emotionally charged art in today’s dynamic art economy.

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