Frida Kahlo

Mexican, 1907–1954

11k followers

Frida Kahlo

Bio

Mexican, 1907–1954

Followers
11k
Biography

Frida Kahlo’s life has become as iconic as her work, in no small part because she was her own most popular subject: roughly one third of her entire oeuvre is self-portraits. Her works were intensely personal and political, often reflecting her turbulent personal life, her illness, and her relationship with the revolutionary muralist Diego Rivera. Kahlo dedicated her life and her art to the Mexican Revolution and the simultaneous artistic renaissance it engendered. Her style of painting has been widely categorized; Rivera considered her a realist, while André Breton considered her a Surrealist, and Kahlo eschewed labels entirely. “I paint my own reality,” she wrote. “The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.” She identified most strongly with Mexican popular and folk art, also evidenced in her habit of dressing elaborately in Tehuana costumes.

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Career Highlights
Learn more about artist insights.
User
Solo show at a major institution
Tate Modern, and 4 more
Group
Group show at a major institution
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and 11 more
Institution
Collected by a major institution
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and 2 more
Publication
Reviewed by a major art publication
Artforum, and 5 more
Biography

Frida Kahlo’s life has become as iconic as her work, in no small part because she was her own most popular subject: roughly one third of her entire oeuvre is self-portraits. Her works were intensely personal and political, often reflecting her turbulent personal life, her illness, and her relationship with the revolutionary muralist Diego Rivera. Kahlo dedicated her life and her art to the Mexican Revolution and the simultaneous artistic renaissance it engendered. Her style of painting has been widely categorized; Rivera considered her a realist, while André Breton considered her a Surrealist, and Kahlo eschewed labels entirely. “I paint my own reality,” she wrote. “The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.” She identified most strongly with Mexican popular and folk art, also evidenced in her habit of dressing elaborately in Tehuana costumes.

Career Highlights
Learn more about artist insights.
User
Solo show at a major institution
Tate Modern, and 4 more
Group
Group show at a major institution
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and 11 more
Institution
Collected by a major institution
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and 2 more
Publication
Reviewed by a major art publication
Artforum, and 5 more
Shows Featuring Frida Kahlo
Articles Featuring Frida Kahlo
5 Artists to Follow if You Like Frida Kahlo
Dec 16th, 2020
5 Artists to Follow if You Like Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo’s “My Grandparents, My Parents, and I (Family Tree)” Helped Me Bridge Divisions in My Biracial Family
Oct 13th, 2020
Frida Kahlo’s “My Grandparents, My Parents, and I (Family Tree)” Helped Me Bridge Divisions in My Biracial Family
6 Iconic Artists, as Captured by Renowned Photographers
Aug 17th, 2020
6 Iconic Artists, as Captured by Renowned Photographers
Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe’s Formative Friendship
Mar 20th, 2020
Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe’s Formative Friendship
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