Frida Kahlo 2017

Andrey Allakhverdov’s 'Frida Kahlo' is an oil on canvas whose colors and composition pull you into a story within a story. It's like peeking into the artist's studio, where the magic happens, and you see Frida not just as a subject, but as a creator, brush in hand, palette in lap. The paint has a comforting thickness, especially in the background. It's not trying to hide itself; you can see the tracks of the brush, each stroke a decision, a feeling laid bare. Notice that vibrant teal blue that defines Frida's dress? It's applied with a freedom that gives life to the fabric and depth to the composition. The edges are soft, colors bleed into each other, embracing the fluidity of painting. Allakhverdov reminds me of Alice Neel, in how he understands that portraits are not just about likeness, but also about capturing the spirit, the life force, of a person. There's a conversation happening here, between the artist, the subject, and us, the viewers, about who Frida was and who she continues to be in our collective imagination.