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Icons, Installations, and Modern Masterworks

Three standout exhibitions transform the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, this season, from Frida Kahlo’s evolving legacy to Ernesto Neto’s immersive installation and a rare trove of modern masterworks.

Article by Memorial Lifestyle Staff

Photography by Courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Originally published in Memorial Lifestyle

Frida: The Making of an Icon

The final days of Frida: The Making of an Icon are approaching at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, before the exhibition travels to London’s Tate Modern. Organized by MFAH curator Mari Carmen Ramírez, the show examines Frida Kahlo’s transformation from little-known painter to global cultural symbol. Featuring 35 works by Kahlo alongside pieces by artists across five generations, the exhibition explores how her image and story have been continually reinterpreted. In doing so, it reclaims Kahlo’s identity as an artist while highlighting her lasting influence on contemporary art and activism.

Ernesto Neto: SunForceOceanLife

Ernesto Neto: SunForceOceanLife, a monumental 2019 commission by the Brazilian artist, returns to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Installed in Cullinan Hall through September 7, 2026, the immersive work forms a suspended labyrinth of crocheted pathways constructed by a team of more than a dozen people. Visitors move through the spiraling structure, surrounded by vibrant woven forms and soft plastic balls underfoot. Inspired by crochet techniques Neto learned from his grandmother, the installation reflects the interconnected forces of sun, ocean, and life on Earth.

Picasso–Klee–Matisse: Masterpieces from the Museum Berggruen

More than 95 modern masterworks arrive in Houston with Picasso–Klee–Matisse: Masterpieces from the Museum Berggruen, offering a rare look inside the celebrated collection of German gallerist Heinz Berggruen. The exhibition features works by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Alberto Giacometti, Georges Braque, and Paul Cézanne, many of which were acquired directly from the artists. Organized thematically, the show explores Berggruen’s ties to the postwar Paris art scene and Berggruen’s deeply personal approach to collecting. The exhibition remains on view from May 20 through July 27, 2026.

“This singular commission reflects our commitment to Latin American artists and to engaging our visitors in unique art experiences.”  Gary Tinterow, Director, the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, MFAH