Frida Kahlo “I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.”

Family Frida’s childhood home (La Casa Azul, or ‘The Blue House’) Frida was born in Coyocoán, Mexico City in Mexico in 1907 (although she often suggested that she was born in 1910). She was born to a Mexican mother and German father and had three sisters. Frida and her sisters (Frida is stood on the right hand side)

The Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) Frida grew up at a time when Mexico was in the middle of a revolution, with civil war raging from 1910 until 1920. Many lives were lost, but as a result of the revolution many reforms were introduced, including the redistribution of certain lands to poorer Mexicans. By the end of the revolution, the people of Mexico, desperate to define their own national identity, ultimately embraced a heritage of mixed cultures (including European, Native American and Spanish). The impact of this period can be seen in Frida’s paintings as she celebrated this cross-cultural identity.

1925: bus accident In 1925 Frida was on a bus when it was involved in a serious accident. She was very badly injured, having had her spine and pelvis broken. She had been about to start medical training, but as a result of the accident had to give that up. As she recovered from her injuries she painted from her bed – a childhood hobby that she revisited. Aside from some guidance from her father, Frida taught herself how to paint.

Marriage to Diego Rivera: 1926 In 1926 Frida married a very famous mural artists called Diego Rivera. He was older than Frida and they had quite a tumultuous relationship. They divorced in 1939 only to get remarried in 1940.

Frida the artist Frida spent all of her adult life painting. She mainly painted herself in a way that shared her emotions and physical pain from her injuries as well as her cultural identity. She included many animals (often pets) and plant life in her paintings as well as colours and objects that were representative of her feelings. Her artwork is celebrated for its honest portrayal of herself as a Mexican woman of the 20th Century. Because of the symbolism in her work, Kahlo is often associated with surrealist art, but she didn’t paint her dreams – it was her reality. As a result she never officially became part of the surrealist movement. In 1938 Kahlo had her first solo exhibition at a New York City gallery

International renown About a week after her 47th birthday, Kahlo died on July 13 at La Casa Azul (the blue house) – her health had been deteriorating for some years. La Casa Azul was opened as a museum in 1958 and the feminist movement of the 1970s led to great interest in her life and art - Kahlo was considered a role model of female creativity. It wasn’t until the 1980s that Kahlo shot to true international acclaim, and in 2002 a film about her life was made, called Frida. In 2005 The Tate Modern in London put on a hugely successful exhibition of her work. There will be/was another major exhibition at the V&A Museum in June 2018.