Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo. Early twentieth century Mexican painter, wife of renowned fresco painter Diego Rivera, and possibly the most famous uni-brow of all time. Most of Kahlo’s work consists of self-portraits which are often dominated by the pain that she constantly experienced due a bus accident that occurred when she was a teenager (resulting in numerous broken bones, including her spine, and severe damage to her reproductive organs).

Often described as folk art, a significant portion of Kahlo’s work deals with her injuries, her damaged body, and her inability to reproduce. One could argue that she channeled that inability to reproduce children into her extremely prolific production of art. Often bedridden and unable to move around, painting was her only outlet, and she would often paint in bed. Her work varies from somewhat stylized, to near-photo realistic.

I’m always intrigued by Kahlo’s work because it is so personal. She became so focused on the terrible luck she had in life and the difficulties she faced living with such a damaged body. I’ve always found it extremely difficult to focus on myself in my art, most likely because I am so self-conscious and introverted. Kahlo’s work serves as an excellent example of how one can use their art to explore themselves, and help deal with difficult life issues in a constructive way.