Frida Kahlo Masterpiece "El sueño (La cama)" Set to Challenge Auction Records at Sotheby's

A significant self-portrait by iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, titled "El sueño (La cama)" (The Dream (The Bed)), is poised to make history at Sotheby's this November. The 1940 masterpiece carries an estimated price of $40 million to $60 million, according to Sotheby's officials, as reported by the Associated Press on November 5, 2025.

This highly anticipated sale, scheduled for November 20, 2025, could shatter the existing auction record for a work by any female artist. The current record is held by Georgia O'Keeffe, whose painting "Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1" fetched $44.4 million in 2014, as noted by PBS News.

The painting depicts Kahlo in a four-poster bed, floating amidst a cloudy blue sky, enveloped by green vines. A skeleton, wired with explosives and holding a bouquet, rests on the bed's canopy, a poignant reflection of her profound personal struggles and artistic peak, Smithsonian Magazine detailed on September 29, 2025.

Julian Dawes, Vice Chairman and Head of Impressionist and Modern Art for Sotheby's Americas, emphasized the painting's rarity. He stated that "El sueño (La cama)" is not only one of Kahlo's more important works but also one of the few major pieces existing outside of Mexico and not held in a museum collection, according to the Associated Press.

The auction of this significant work is part of Sotheby's 'Exquisite Corpus' Evening Auction in New York, which features a collection of over 80 Surrealist paintings, drawings, and sculptures. heni reported on November 3, 2025, that the overall collection has pre-sale low estimates totaling $66.72 million.

This event underscores the enduring global appeal and increasing market value of Frida Kahlo's art, particularly her deeply personal self-portraits. Artnet News highlighted on September 19, 2025, that the sale is expected to draw considerable international attention from collectors and institutions alike.

• Symbolism and Personal Context of "El sueño (La cama)"
  Painted in 1940, "El sueño (La cama)" is a profound symbolic self-portrait reflecting Frida Kahlo's tumultuous life and her unique perspective on mortality. The artwork features Kahlo asleep, with a skeleton wired with explosives on her bed canopy, a direct reference to a papier-mâché skeleton she kept above her own bed to symbolize the continuity between life and death, according to Artchive. The green vines embracing her body represent life and rebirth, while the floating bed against a cloudy sky suggests a dreamlike state or a journey beyond earthly confines, as explained by blocdejavier.

• Georgia O'Keeffe's Current Auction Record
  The current record for the most expensive artwork by a female artist at auction is held by Georgia O'Keeffe's "Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1." This 1932 painting sold for an impressive $44.4 million at Sotheby's in November 2014, significantly surpassing its initial estimates, The Guardian reported at the time. The sale, which saw intense bidding, more than doubled the previous record for a female artist and cemented O'Keeffe's status as a top-tier artist in the global market, according to artlyst.

• Frida Kahlo's Previous Auction Highs
  Frida Kahlo already holds the record for the most expensive Latin American artwork ever sold at auction. Her self-portrait "Diego y yo" (Diego and I) fetched $34.9 million at Sotheby's in November 2021, as reported by My Modern Met. This sale not only set a new personal best for Kahlo but also surpassed the previous record for a Latin American artist, which was held by her husband, Diego Rivera, according to forbes.

• The 'Exquisite Corpus' Auction and Surrealism Market
  "El sueño (La cama)" is a highlight of Sotheby's 'Exquisite Corpus' auction, a curated sale featuring over 80 Surrealist masterpieces. This collection, coming from an unnamed private collector, is estimated to total between $70 million and $105 million, Artnet News revealed on September 19, 2025. The auction reflects a strong resurgence in the Surrealist art market, with the genre's share of the art market increasing significantly in recent years, as noted by Sotheby's.

• Rarity and Provenance of the Painting
  The painting's exceptional value is partly due to its rarity in the open market. Julian Dawes of Sotheby's highlighted that "El sueño (La cama)" is one of the few significant Kahlo works not permanently housed in a museum or within Mexico, making its availability a unique opportunity for collectors, the Associated Press confirmed. The work is believed to originate from the private collection of Turkish-American record label executive Nesuhi Ertegun and his wife Selma, which was famously exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in 1991, according to The Art Newspaper.

• Global Exhibition Tour Leading to Auction
  Prior to its sale in New York, "El sueño (La cama)" embarked on a global exhibition tour, showcasing its significance to a worldwide audience. The painting was presented in major art hubs including London, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and Paris, before arriving at Sotheby's New York for the November 20 auction, Sotheby's announced on September 23, 2025. This extensive tour aimed to build anticipation and allow international collectors and art enthusiasts to view the masterpiece firsthand.

• Impact on the Art Market for Female Artists
  Should "El sueño (La cama)" achieve its high estimate, it would not only set a new record for Kahlo but also significantly elevate the market standing for female artists globally. The potential to surpass O'Keeffe's record underscores a growing recognition and re-evaluation of women's contributions to art history, a trend that has seen increased attention and investment in recent years, as discussed by The Nomad Salon in November 2023. This sale could inspire further appreciation and higher valuations for works by other prominent female artists.