Frida Kahlo

"I paint self portraits because I am so often alone, I am the person I know best". 

Widely known for her passion, pain and self portraits Frida Kahlo is one of the most celebrated artists of Mexico. Kahlo had a troubled childhood, as a child she suffered from Polio that left her with a slight limp. In another incident, Frida Kahlo nearly died in a bus accident as a teenager. She suffered multiple fractures of her spine, collarbone, ribs, a shattered pelvis, broken foot and dislocated shoulder. In her lifetime, the artist had 30 operations.

During her recovery period, Kahlo began to focus heavily on painting. She created almost 200 paintings in her lifetime. The primary subjects of her paintings were still life and portraits of herself, family and friends.

In meticulously executed paintings, Kahlo portrayed herself again and again. She created the first self portrait in year 1926, where she can be seen wearing a velvet dress. It was painted in the style of the 19th century Mexican portrait painters who themselves were greatly influenced by the European Renaissance masters.

Kahlo was greatly inspired by native Mexican culture, which is evident in her colour palette. The use of dramatic symbolism is one of the key features that depicts the Mexican influence in her life and style of work. 

Kahlo’s early recognition was incited by French poet and founder of Surrealism Andre Breton, who embraced her art as self made Surrealism and included her work in his 1940’s International Exhibition of surrealism in Mexico City.  Although Frida's work, often fantastic and sometimes gory, has been described as surrealism, she once wrote that she never knew she was a surrealist "until André Breton came to Mexico and told me I was one."