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FRIDA KAHLO CELEBRATED PAINTER AND FEMINIST ICON

FULL NAME: Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderon

BORN: JULY 6, 1907, COYOACÁN, MEXICO

DIED: JULY 13, 1954, COYOACÁN, MEXICO

NATIONALITY: MEXICAN

FRIDA THE FIGHTER

Frida Kahlo was born in Mexico City to a German father and Mexican mother. The third of four daughters (with two older stepsisters), Frida grew up in a world surrounded by women. When she was only three years old, the Mexican Revolution broke out. Her family and these revolutionary politics helped to shape the person young Frida would become.

Mexico takes great pride in Frida Kahlo the painter. She appears on the Mexican 500-peso bill, alongside an image of her work.

At the age of six, Frida caught polio, which affected the use of her legs. She didn’t let this get in her way and continued playing sports, including boxing. Her early lessons in persevering through difficulty would serve Frida well in later life. As a teenager, Frida attended one of the top schools in Mexico, dreaming of becoming a doctor. But that dream was soon to change.

At the age of 18, Frida was riding a bus that was suddenly struck by a tram. She survived but was very seriously injured. Afterward, Frida spent three months in bed in a full-body cast. Even after this recovery, the teenage Frida had to relearn to walk and remained in constant pain for the rest of her life. But Frida was a fighter. During her recuperation, Frida’s mother had a special easel built that allowed her to paint from bed. She changed her dream from medicine to art. (Much of Frida’s work continued to include her knowledge of anatomy and medicine.) Frida was entirely self-taught, but her artistic talent was impressive. She was soon attracting attention from some of the great artists of the day, including Diego Rivera, whom she later married—twice. Frida and Diego influenced each other’s work for the rest of their lives. Frida remained ill for much of her life, and she died at the young age of 47.

I PAINTED MY OWN REALITY

Frida Kahlo remains known for her use of bright colors, self-portraits, and images of Mexican culture. Her work is sometimes described as dreamlike. But as Frida explained, “I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.” She was very political and had a strong, independent spirit.

It wasn’t until after her death that Frida became known as an incredible artist and feminist icon. Her paintings can now be found in museums all over the world, from Detroit to Japan, as well as at Caza Azul in Mexico—the house where Frida was born, painted, lived, and died. Several movies, books, and plays have been written about Frida’s life and work. She remains an inspiration of what can be achieved through dedication and spirit.