2.21.2011

Artist to Know - Frida Kahlo

About a month ago I had a post about Art Movies and shared with you how I was not a fan of Frida  Kahlo's work but after seeing the movie Frida I learned to appreciate her intriguing work. Today I thought I would share with you the work of this remarkable artist.


Frida Kahlo de Rivera 1907 – 1954

Frida was a Mexican painter, born in Coyoacán. Perhaps best known for her self-portraits. Kahlo's work is remembered for its "pain and passion", and its intense, vibrant colors.


Frida was one of four daughters born to a Hungarian-Jewish father and a mother of Spanish and Mexican Indian descent.She did not originally plan to become an artist. A survivor of polio, she entered a pre-med program in Mexico City.


At the age of 18, she was seriously injured in a bus accident. She spent over a year in bed recovering from fractures to her spine, collarbone and ribs, a shattered pelvis, and shoulder and foot injuries. She endured more than 30 operations in her lifetime and during her convalescence she began to paint.


During her lifetime, Frida created some 200 paintings, drawings and sketches related to her experiences in life. 143 of her paintings are about her physical and emotional pain and her turbulent relationship, and 55 are self-portraits.


Today, more than half a century after her death, her paintings fetch more money than any other female artist.

Enjoy more of her work at this Frida Kahlo website.

Do you have an artists who's work you learned to appreciate?
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5 comments:

  1. There is one artist I very much admire... her name was Friedl Dicker-Brandeis, and she was murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz in 1944. What I really found inspiring about her was that though the Nazis forbid teaching such subjects, when she was interned in Terezin concentration camp she taught children art, and unlike the other teachers in the camp she did it for free. I actually wrote an essay about her, which won a high school essay contest:

    http://www.stageoflife.com/StageHighSchool/Posts/tabid/72/g/posts/t/1276/Default.aspx

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  2. TheForestFaery, what an amazing and inspiring story! Thanks for sharing the link to you essay.

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  3. I didn't know all her history, but am familiar with her work! Thanks for sharing!

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    http://christiecottage.blogspot.com

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  4. I too was not interested in Frida Kahlo's work until I saw "Frida" as well. Good blog...passing along art history is so important!

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  5. You're welcome, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to spread the word about Friedl. :)

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