Legal battle over Gelman Collection could see Frida Kahlo works leave Mexico permanently

The Gelman Collection, consisting of 160 pieces of 20th-century Mexican art, including 18 by Frida Kahlo, is at the center of a growing legal dispute. On 1 July, the Defence of the Gelman Collection collective filed a lawsuit against Mexican cultural authorities, aiming to annul a long-term agreement established on 7 January, which they argue permits the indefinite removal of artworks protected under heritage laws. The collection features 30 pieces by Diego Rivera and others. Due to a 1984 decree that restricts permanent export, Kahlo's works are subject to more stringent regulations. Following a 17 February exhibition at Mexico City's Museum of Modern Art, the collection is set to move to Spain for an 8 September opening. A court has rejected a motion to keep the collection in Mexico while the Supreme Court reviews the 1984 decree's validity.