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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