Frida Kahlo Painting Sold for Record $54.6 Million in New York - Frida Kahlo’s *El sueño* shatters auction records at $54.6 million
A Frida Kahlo painting has broken auction records after selling for $54.6 million in New York. The artwork, titled El sueño (La cama), surpassed the previous high for a Kahlo piece by over $10 million. The buyer’s identity remains unknown, as the sale took place at Sotheby’s in 2022.
The painting depicts Kahlo asleep on a bed floating in the sky, with a skeleton wrapped in dynamite. This surreal and symbolic imagery reflects her signature style, blending folkloric elements with European influences. Experts had estimated the work would fetch between $40 million and $60 million before the auction.
The $54.6 million sale confirms Kahlo’s enduring appeal in the art market. El sueño (La cama) now stands as her most expensive work ever sold at auction. The record price highlights the strong demand for her distinctive and emotionally charged paintings.
