Frida & Diego in Detroit

Frieda & Diego Rivera (c) Frida Kahlo

Last weekend we booked ourselves a rental car and drove to our friends in Ann Arbor (Michigan). Besides wanting to spend the long weekend with friends, relax and enjoy the good company (and good food of course ...), we were very much looking forward to visiting the 'Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit' exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA).


This exhibition explores the tumultuous and highly productive year that Diego & Frida spent in Detroit, turning point in both their careers. Between April 1932 and March 1933 Diego created one of his most accomplished mural cycles 'Detroit Industry' on the four walls of a centrally located courtyard at the DIA, now called the Rivera Court. At the same time, Frida, developed her now-celebrated artistic identity.

The Assembly of an Automobile (c) Diego Rivera 

Center piece of the exhibition are Rivera's epic preparatory drawings for Detroit Industry. But there are over 70 works of art on display at the exhibit, including works both artists created before, during and after their time in the Motor City.

Detroit Industry Detail 'Infant in the bulb  of a Plant' - (c) Diego Rivera

The event that influenced the couple the most, was the miscarriage Frida experienced while she was
in Detroit, on July 4th of 1932. We have seen some breath taking paintings and drawings both Frida and Diego created after this dramatic event. Rivera also included the event in his murals at the DIA.


Unfortunately we left the exhibition - and the shop - at 5 pm and were denied access to the Rivera Court to have a look at the murals. So: if you are planning to visit, take at least two hours for both the exhibition and the murals at Rivera Court. You may want to count an extra 30 minutes for the exhibition museum shop!


Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo in Detroit - until July 12th at the DIA.  Tickets are available online.
Tickets cost $14 (Tue- Fri), $19 (Sat - Sun) for adults. Kids ages 6-17 pay $9.  Added bonus: the audio guide has two versions: one for adults and one for kids. Our five year old loved his one!