Frida Kahlo-branded luxury apartments go up for sale in Miami

Apartments at a Frida Kahlo-branded luxury condo development in Miami went on sale this week, although the project has yet to break ground. Promotional materials describe the planned homes as “inspired by the expressive spirit of Frida Kahlo”.

Renderings of the so-called Frida Kahlo Wynwood Residences show a monumental portrait of the artist emblazoned on the side of Paris’ Opéra Bastille’s 14-story tower designed by architect Carlos Ott. A second eight-story tower is also planned for the site. Inside, however, everything is more restrained: the interiors are painted in neutral, muted tones.

Joint developers PMG Real Estate Associates and Lndmrk Development said the project will be completed in 2028. The development will include 244 fully furnished units ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments. They cost approximately $500,000 to $1.6 million. Expensive, but still a long way from the heights of Kahlo: 1940 El sueño (La cama)Last year, the work was sold at Sotheby’s in New York for a record $54.7 million (including fees).

The facilities also reflect contemporary luxury rather than bohemian mythology. Plans include an outdoor swimming pool with a lounge area and bar, fitness center, sauna and spa, according to the developers.

The project is being approved by Frida Kahlo Corporation, an entity founded by Kahlo’s niece Isolda Pinedo Kahlo, her daughter Maria Cristina Romeo Pinedo and Venezuelan businessman Carlos Dorado. The company, which controls the licensing of Kahlo’s name and likeness and is known for its aggressive legal stance, will oversee the hotel’s carefully curated art collection, as well as its food and beverage offerings and pool deck. Mansion Global.

“Frida Kahlo was never meant to live only on walls; she was meant to be inhabited,” said Bea Alvarado, chief operating officer of the Frida Kahlo Corporation. The Art Newspaper in a statement.

The company has pursued a wide range of collaborations in recent years, including partnerships with fast-fashion giant Shein and Mattel’s Barbie franchise, which sparked a legal dispute between members of the Kahlo family. The company also faces ongoing criticism for commercializing the image of Kahlo, a staunch communist, through luxury and mass-market brands.

The Wynwood home has come under similar scrutiny. After news of the unit launch broke, some social media users described the development as “soulless” and “bland”.

One commenter wrote: “Besides the huge aesthetic disagreement with her heritage, Kahlo was a devoted communist who would have hated it all.”