In the market for a crash pad after late nights during Art Basel Miami Beach? Look no further: units in a yet-to-be built, Frida Kahlo-branded luxury condominium development in Miami went up for sale this week. The two sleek towers planned for the site are “inspired by Frida Kahlo’s expressive spirit” according to promotional materials.
Renderings of the Frida Kahlo Wynwood Residences show a massive image of Kahlo on the side of the 14-storey tower designed by architect Carlos Ott, who also designed the Opéra Bastille in Paris. Another eight-storey tower will also be built as part of the project. The renderings also show interiors outfitted with neutral tones.
A primary bedroom rendering within the development. ARX Creative
The project is scheduled to be completed in 2028, according to co-developers PMG Real Estate Associates and Lndmrk Development. The 244 fully-furnished units, ranging from studios to three bedrooms, will run buyers between around $500,000 and $1.6m. That is a bargain compared to some of Kahlo’s paintings—the artist’s El sueño (La cama) (1940) sold at Sotheby’s New York last year for a record $54.7m, with fees.
The luxury amenities and muted interiors of the Frida Kahlo Wynwood Residences are a far cry from Kahlo’s colourful and comparatively humble digs at La Casa Azul in Mexico City. The new Miami building will feature an outdoor pool with lounge areas and a bar, a fitness centre, a sauna and spa treatment rooms. A space on the first floor will be occupied by a concierge primary care provider, according to developers.
A rendering of the development's rooftop pool. ARX Creative
The project is moving forward with the blessing of the Frida Kahlo Corporation, the firm founded by Kahlo’s niece Isolda Pinedo Kahlo, her daughter, Maria Cristina Romeo Pinedo and the Venezuelan businessman Carlos Dorado. The company handles licensing of the artist’s name and image and is notoriously litigious. The Frida Kahlo Corporation will oversee a curated art collection at the development, a food and beverage component and the pool deck, according to Mansion Global.
"Frida Kahlo was never meant to live only on walls, she was meant to be lived,” Bea Alvarado, the chief operating officer of the Frida Kahlo Corporation told The Art Newspaper in a statement.
The corporation has undertaken a plethora of collaborations in recent years with brands like the fast-fashion behemoth Shein and Barbie, the latter of which resulted in a legal battle between members of Kahlo’s family. The Frida Kahlo Corporation has faced backlash for licensing the image of Kahlo, a committed Communist, for commercial deals. The Frida Kahlo Wynwood Residences have not been immune to such criticism: some social media users described the units going on sale this week as “soulless” and “bland”.
“Besides the wild divergence aesthetically from her legacy, Kahlo was a dedicated communist and would have hated everything about this,” one user wrote.
A rendering of the in-house fitness studio. ARX Creative
