Nestled just three blocks from the iconic Casa Azul in Coyoacán, Mexico City, the Museo Casa Kahlo—also known as Casa Roja—offers a fresh and intimate perspective on the life of Frida Kahlo. Unlike Casa Azul, which celebrates Frida’s artistic legacy and public persona, Casa Roja delves into her familial roots and personal relationships, revealing the quieter, formative moments that shaped her identity.
Opened in 2025, the museum is housed in a red-walled building that once belonged to the Kahlo family. Curated by Mara Romeo Kahlo, Frida’s grandniece, the space honors not only Frida but the entire Kahlo lineage. Visitors are invited to explore preserved rooms filled with authentic family artifacts, including a traditional kitchen featuring the only known mural painted by Frida herself, a private basement sanctuary, and a gallery of family photographs accompanied by audio recordings of letters Frida wrote to her sisters.
The museum also highlights the philanthropic work of Cristina Kahlo, Frida’s sister, through “La Ayuda,” a program for single mothers that operated from the Casa Roja in the 1950s. Another exhibit pays tribute to “Los Fridos,” Frida’s devoted students who maintained close ties with the Kahlo family long after her passing.
Casa Roja’s immersive experience is designed to deepen visitors’ understanding of Frida’s emotional world—her bonds with siblings, her early artistic stirrings, and the domestic spaces that nurtured her creativity. The museum concludes with a charming gift shop offering artisanal souvenirs like huipiles, tote bags, and hand-painted ceramics.
Together, Casa Azul and Casa Roja form a powerful cultural corridor, allowing admirers of Frida Kahlo to appreciate both the myth and the woman behind it. A visit to Museo Casa Kahlo is not just a journey into art—it’s a walk through the heart of a family that shaped a legend.
Source: Chilango
