Frida Kahlo is one of the greatest Mexican artists of the 20 th Century Born in Coyoacán, Mexico in 1907 She grew up during the Mexican Revolution, one of the many events which influenced her life and her art Her life was full of painful events which shaped her art. Age 25, a photo taken by her father
At the age of 5, Frida contracted polio and although she recovered her right leg was left thin and weak She participated in many physical activities (swimming, boxing, soccer) to strengthen her leg but nothing helped She wore long dresses & pants to hide what made her different Kids called her Frida Peg Leg A young Frida Kahlo, June 1919
Frida was a curious child She wanted to know about nature & science She brought home plants, rocks, bugs, etc. to study Her father encouraged her to learn as much as she could Her father was a photographer and amateur artist
Her father taught her about ancient Mexican art and architecture He showed her how to use a camera as well as how to retouch and recolor photographs Handy skills for a future artist! Portrait of My Father (1951) She had no artistic aspirations she planned to study medicine
Frida attended Escuela Nacional Preparatoria (one of the best schools in Mexico) and was one of only 35 female students. Frida was the troublemaker of her school; she drove her teachers crazy When a famous artist was hired to paint a mural at her school, she was determined to aggravate him, too
After the Revolution, the new government hired painters to create murals across the country. Diego Rivera (just back from Europe) was hired to paint a mural in her high school. 14 year old Frida loved to play tricks on Diego (or Old Fatso as she called him) while he worked on his famous mural Creation
On her way home from school, at the age of 18, Frida was involved in a horrific bus accident. Some were killed Frida was badly injured & spent months in bed Her bones never healed properly She spent the rest of her life in pain She had many operations (approximately 35) over her lifetime (the majority were on her back)
Frida suffered the following injuries in the bus accident: Broken spinal column Broken collarbone Broken ribs Broken pelvis Eleven fractures in her right leg Crushed & dislocated right foot Dislocated shoulder An iron handrail went through her abdomen & uterus, later causing 3 miscarriages/terminated pregnancies She spent 3 months in a full body cast Pain would often leave her hospitalized or bedridden for months at a time as an adult
Bored and in need of something to do, the bedridden Frida borrowed her father s art supplies and began painting portraits The subject she painted most: herself This was the first interest she d taken in art Her parents created a special easel to allow her to paint while bedridden
Never having received any formal training, Frida was her own teacher. She studied her father s art books and copied the works of the masters Just like other Mexican artists, Frida soon became interested in the folk art of her country She began including things she found in Mexican folk art in her own paintings For example: monkeys, a symbol of lust Self Portrait Dedicated to Dr. Eloesser (1940) There was something mysterious & powerful about the Indian art
Painting made her feel better Frida decided to never let pain or injuries get in her way Worked on paintings Got together with friends Went to parties She was introduced to Diego Rivera at a party he didn t recognize her because she was now an adult! The Two Fridas (1939)
When Frida came to show Diego her artwork, he finally remembered the girl who teased him years ago Although she teased him, she had always respected his talent Diego thought Frida was very talented and he liked her a lot, too. Despite a more than 20 year age difference, they began dating and eventually married. Frieda and Diego Rivera (1931)
Diego was proud of Frida and always encouraged her. He also taught her more about art. Frida travelled to the US with Diego when he went to paint murals there in the 1930s They were invited to many glamorous parties But Frida felt out of place in The States Diego loved spending time there and she did not Memory (The Heart) (1937)
Self Portrait Along the Border Line Between Mexico and the United States (1932) My Dress Hangs Here (1933-1938) www.fridakahlo.org
Frida & Diego had lots of arguments Diego loved spending time in the US, but Frida did not. She preferred Sometimes they would live apart after serious arguments This is when Frida created some of her best works Frida s mother never approved of the marriage Self Portrait with Cropped Hair (1940)
Ultimately they built two homes next to one another, connected by a walkway They both had numerous affairs One of Diego s affairs was with Frida s younger sister Frida was bisexual and while Diego didn t mind her affairs with women, he was jealous of her relationships with other men Although the divorced in November 1939, they remarried in December 1940 Diego lived in the white side and Frida lived in the blue side
Frida painted her feelings like no artist before her Over time, her work became as famous as Diego s André Breton (founder of the Surrealist movement) described her work as a ribbon around a bomb Frida did not see her art as Surrealism. She said that she painted her reality more than her dreams She loved to dress in beautiful costumes and jewelry like a living work of art When her right leg had to be amputated below the knee, she had a very artistic prosthetic leg designed.
She became increasingly ill the last few years of her life & increased her morphine consumption She died at the age of 47 Official cause: Pulmonary embolism Some suspect it was a morphine overdose; possibly an intentional one. No autopsy was done Diego said the day she died was the most tragic day of his life He realized, too late, that the most wonderful part of his life had been his love for her. I hope the exit is joyful, and I hope never to return. Frida wrote this in her diary days before her death