“Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life” examines Kahlo’s work, life and influence through the lens of the plants and nature that surrounded her.

The exhibit, open through May 31, 2017, at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, Arizona, was designed by the New York Botanical Garden.

The centerpiece is the recreation of the gardens that Kahlo maintained in her home in Mexico City: La Casa Azul. Included in the installation is the Meso-American-inspired pyramid that her husband, Diego Rivera, built in the central courtyard of Casa Azul. This replica is used to showcase a diverse collection of cacti and succulents native to the deserts of Mexico and the Southwestern United States.

All sorts of extras surround the exhibit, including:

Poetry Walk: A series of placards thoughtfully placed throughout the Gardens that presents the poetry of Octavio Paz, a Kahlo contemporary, in Spanish and English.

“The Two Fridas”: Mexican artist Humberto Spindola was commissioned to re-create ‘The Two Fridas,’ Kahlo’s double self-portrait, in the Aztec tradition of amate paper art. This original work of art will be on display in the Gardens’ Legacy Gallery.

Mexican Plant Tour: A self-guided stroll through the Gardens that focuses on the native flora that would have been a part of Frida Kahlo’s surroundings in Central Mexico.

Frida for Children: Family-friendly activities that present Kahlo’s life and work in a way to spark the imagination of visitors of all ages. There is a Puppet Theater and a kid-sized replica of Frida’s Kitchen. Both are hands-on opportunities to explore the connections between art, creativity and the natural world.

(Image of portrait Frida Kahlo by David Conklin courtesy of the Tucson Botanical Gardens)