Frida Kahlo Panel Formed
Mary-Anne Martin/Fine Art is pleased to announce that, in order to deal
with the increasing number of authenticity questions on works by Frida
Kahlo arising in recent years a committee has been formed to address these
issues. Known as The American Panel on Kahlo Research, the committee will
consist of Dr. Hayden Herrera, the well-known biographer of Frida Kahlo and
author of several books and articles on this artist, and Mary-Anne Martin,
founder of the Latin American Department at Sotheby's and expert in the
Mexican Paintings field for twenty years. Dr. Ramon Favela, Professor of Art
History at the University of Southern California at Santa Barbara, who is
preparing the catalogue raisonné on Diego Rivera and who is also frequently
consulted on Kahlo expertise has agreed to serve as a consultant to the
panel, "when a third pair of eyes are needed."
The need for the formation of this panel has become crucial, as more and
more fakes are appearing on the market now that the value of works by this
artist, which are very rare, has increased. Collectors, dealers and auction
houses frequently consult with these three experts separately, taking up a
great deal of their time and often obliging them to consult with each other
on an informal basis. The experts decided to formalize the situation in order
to organize their time and add to the body of Kahlo scholarship as well. A
few genuine works have turned up among all the fakes and they should be
documented. Although this panel will not have any legal status in
determining which works are legitimate and which should be kept off the
market, the panel members hope that responsible individuals will respect
the committee's opinion and not continue to circulate questionable works.
Currently, the same fake paintings are offered again and again, always
setting off a new round of questions to the experts. For example, Martin was
offered the same fake painting three times in four months, each time from a
different country. Herrera and Favela were also consulted on this painting
during the same period.
There will be no charge for the panel's expertise, although a contribution
to the Bide-a-Wee Animal Shelter will be requested. The panelists feel that,
because of her great love of animals, Kahlo would have approved.
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From now till Sept. 8 the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
will be showing the collection of modern Mexican painting of Jacques and
Natasha Gelman. Jacques Gelman was a film producer in Mexico, and with his
wife, a close friend of the Gerzsos. Among their collection of masterworks from
such artists as Kahlo, Tamayo, Rivera and Orozco is arguably the finest
selection of the work of Gunther Gerzso. With works spanning his entire
career, it is a rare opportunity to see the scope and talent of the artist some
refer to as "Mexico's best kept secret." For more information, visit the
