Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo (b. 1907–d. 1954) is recognized as not only one of the greatest artists of all time, but also as a global pop culture icon. Kahlo stands as a Mexican symbol (both she and her famous artist husband Diego Rivera are on the Mexican 500-peso note) and her image and reprints of her paintings are sold around the world in everything from museum shops to Target. Kahlo’s legacy extends beyond art and she stands as a strong figure of representation for many identities—including queer, disabled, female, and Mexican. Born into a middle-class family in the quiet Mexico City suburb of Coyoacán, Kahlo distinguished herself early on by attending the elite Escuela Nacional Preparatoria. It is here where Kahlo was first introduced to the nationalist ideals of indigenismo and mexicanidad and well as her lifelong commitment to communist principles. Kahlo’s school is also where she first saw Rivera. Critics often complain that Kahlo’s relationship with Rivera is overemphasized in the analysis of Kahlo and her work. In particular, critics are skeptical of the way that Kahlo’s heteronormative marriage is used to mask Kahlo’s lifelong sexual interest in women. Kahlo suffered a terrible trolley accident at the age of eighteen that almost killed her and left her with severe disabilities throughout her life. These persistent disabilities are a source of inspiration for Kahlo’s paintings as is her tumultuous relationship with Rivera. During her lifetime, Kahlo was known primarily as Diego Rivera’s wife even though she was the first Latin American artist to show her work at the Louvre in Paris. Despite the success, it wasn’t until the 1970s in connection with Chicana and feminist art movements that Kahlo was rediscovered and started growing into a significant global figure. Today the insatiable academic and popular interest in Kahlo is often dubbed “Fridamania” or “Fridolatry” or even “Kahloism.” Currently, Kahlo is the highest selling Latin American artist and her cultural and artistic influence continues to grow across the globe.