At a Sotheby's New York Auction sale of LATIN AMERICAN ART that took place 1st June 2000 with total sales reaching over $11.5 million from only 47 lots sold.  This compelling self-portrait by Mexico's most celebrated female painter went for more than $US 5 million. The picture dated to 1929 was purchased by an unidentified  private collector and the hammer price has set a new record for a self-portrait by Frida Kahlo. 

Painted during her marriage to revolutionary Mexican muralist  DIEGO RIVERA, the painting surpassed its pre-sale estimate by over $US1 million with the previous record set at Sothebys in 1995 of $3,192,500. 

The stunning results of this auction sale clearly point to the rapid rise in the popularity of Latin American art which is a favourite of celebrity collectors such as MADONNA who was one of the first big names to develop a passion for the art of Frida Kahlo - could she be the mystery bidder for this one?