Naples Art Institute is proud to be the first North American venue to host Miradas de Mujeres: Isabelle de Borchgrave and the World of Frida Kahlo, a collection and exhibition of paper dresses and environments by the Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave (born 1946) which was inspired by the style and house of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907–1954).

De Borchgrave, a painter by training, is known for re-creating historical fashion and textiles out of paper. From masterful recreations of elaborate Renaissance gowns to whimsical costumes from the Ballet Russes, de Borchgrave’s breathtaking, life-size works have been featured in major exhibitions around the world.

Miradas de Mujeres (Perspectives of Women) invited the viewer to step into the home of Frida Kahlo - her Casa Azul - via a spectacular trompe l’oeil universe constructed from paper. De Borchgrave depicted an entire Kahlo world – dresses, jewelry, cupboards, carpets, and plants, in paper and colors that remind us of the artist’s joie de vivre, a side of her that is often overlooked. The exhibition imagined a dialogue between two women who had never met, but who shared a love of fabric, patterns and colors. Visitors to this exhibition had the opportunity to stroll through Frida Kahlo’s living room, her atelier, her kitchen, her dressing room, and the garden.

Created over the course of three years, Miradas de Mujeres was an installation that was entirely painted by hand. The artist used more than two miles of paper and cardboard to make the dresses, rugs, furniture, trees and other elements that are featured in Frida Kahlo’s house. The installation offers a new and refreshing look into Frida Kahlo's intimate personality, which is surprisingly more cheerful and radiant than her artistic work might suggest.