Frida Kahlo’s first solo exhibition in her native Mexico didn't happen until 1953, only a year before her death. By this time, her health had deteriorated so much that her doctors forbade her from leaving her bed. Determined to attend the opening at the Galería de Arte Contemporáneo, she arrived in an ambulance and had her four-poster bed moved into the middle of the gallery. She spent the entire evening laughing, singing, and drinking with guests from her bed. This moment cemented her status as a cultural icon of resilience and passion. While her work was celebrated by Surrealists like André Breton, Kahlo famously rejected the label, saying, 'They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn't. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.' Her 143 paintings, 55 of which are self-portraits, continue to influence art and fashion globally.