Frido Kahlo Quick Guide
Born: July 6 1907 - July 13 1954 (47 years old)
Lived: Coyoacán, Mexico
Who was Frida Khalo ?
Artist Frida Kahlo was considered one of Mexico's greatest artists who began painting mostly self-portraits after she was severely injured in a bus accident. Kahlo later became politically active and married fellow communist artist Diego Rivera in 1929. She exhibited her paintings in Paris and Mexico before her death in 1954.
Famous for: Being a strong woman who overcame difficulties to become an acclaimed artist and champion of Mexican culture.
5 Facts you didn't know about Frida Kahlo:
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Frida Kahlo was born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón. The name Frieda comes from the German word Friede, which means peace. She dropped the e from her name around 1935, and subsequently became known as Frida.
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Of her 143 paintings, 55 are self-portraits and 88 are not
She underwent 35 operations as a result of the bus accident she had in her youth
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She frequently included the symbolic monkey. In Mexican mythology, monkeys are symbols of lust, but Kahlo portrayed them as tender and protective symbols.
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The Louvre bought one of her paintings, The Frame. This was the first work by a 20th century Mexican artist ever purchased by the internationally renowned museum.
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Frida Kahlo’s ‘Roots’ holds the auction record for a Latin American piece of art.
Quotes :
"At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can."
"I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and
I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration".
"I paint flowers so they will not die."
Birthday Girl and Brownie Lottie visit Frida's home in Mexico, March 2017
The Bigger Picture!
Frida Kahlo’s childhood
Frida Kahlo grew up in a house called La Casa Azul with her parents and six sisters. That house is now the Frida Kahlo museum. As a child, Frida loved to draw. At age 6, she caught a disease called polio which damaged her right leg.
Frida Kahlo 'Self Portrait' 1940
Why did Kahlo become a painter?
Initially studying medicine, Kahlo changed her career path following a serious accident. As part of her recovery, Kahlo underwent thirty-five operations but she kept painting. Her mother had a special easel made for her so she could paint in bed, and her father lent her his box of oil paints and some brushes.
What did she paint?
Frida often painted portraits of herself. She wanted to show people about her suffering, her inability to have children, and also the people in her life. She created one hundred and forty three paintings, and of these, fifty-five are self-portraits.
'Self Portrait with Monkey', 1938
Frida's painting style
Frida's Influence and Legacy
Frida’s work has inspired artists to reveal their emotions, inner-turmoil, fantasies, and view-points, no matter how extreme. She is also viewed as the people’s painter because she endured a great struggle and she fought through it. Frida was a strong woman who overcame her predicament and did what she was best at despite severe pain and hardship. Today, people visit her home in Mexico to see where her great art was created and to appreciate what a single person can accomplish against all the odds.
Lottie visits Frida's house!
In March 2017, Lottie founder Ian Harkin visited Frida's home in Mexico and accompanied by Lottie, took these rather awesome photos!
Birthday Girl with Viva Vida Mia with some items from Frida's wardrobe
Frida created this puppet house! Tree of Life
Frida Kahlo was known for using bright colours! Download the colouring template below and you too can have some fun with colours!
Download Template
Always Artsy Lottie encompasses so many qualities that Frida Kahlo represented - a love of art, colours and a determination to keep creating wonderful art!