The Life and Art of Frida Kahlo
“I have broken many social norms. I have not regretted the things that I have done. I have enjoyed being contradictory.”1 These are the words of Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo as compiled from interviews done in 1949 and 1950 by Frida’s longtime friend, Olga Campos. These words seem to mirror both Frida’s political beliefs as well as her artistic stance. Throughout her career, Frida Kahlo pushed the boundaries of what was expected from a traditional Latin American female artist. Frida led a life full of emotional and physical pain. From an early diagnosis of polio, to a life altering bus accident, to a marriage riddled with infidelities, Frida’s often-difficult life was the inspiration for her art. Her exploration of herself and the world she lived in broke social norms, artistically, and politically, causing both outrage and awe from those who viewed her paintings. However, throughout her life, Frida’s most interesting and prolific subject seems to be herself.
