Frida Kahlo, (July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954) was born Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón in Coyoacán, Mexico, was a Mexican artist who painted and lived passionately, reaching international fame and is still a great inspiration and influence today.  She was married to another famous Mexican artist, Diego Rivera.

Frida had a tragedy-filled life and her paintings reflected that emotion.  Frida was diagnosed with the debilitating disease polio at the young age of 6.  She overcame the disease, but not without having to bear the physical consequences for the rest of her life.  Polio left her right leg thinner than her left leg, so she wore long skirts to cover her legs. 

On September 17th, 1925, a bus that Frida was riding in hit a trolley car, almost killing her.  She suffered from many injuries, including a broken spinal column, a broken collarbone, broken ribs, a broken pelvis, eleven fractures in her right leg, a crushed and dislocated right foot, and a dislocated shoulder.   An iron handrail pierced her abdomen and her uterus seriously damaging her reproductive ability.  It was during her 3-months of being immobilized in bed that she started painting. 

While in bed for 3-months in a full body cast, she painted to fight the boredom.  She started to paint with the help of a special easel that would allow her to paint while lying in bed, as well as a mirror placed over her bed so she can see her reflection.  She eventually was able to walk again, but she had many relapses of excruciating pain.  She underwent over 30 surgeries on her back, leg and foot throughout her life, as well as suffering a few miscarriages. 

Frida painted many self-portraits, her reasoning being, “I paint myself because I am often alone and I am the subject I know best.”  Her paintings were of a peculiar, unique style which often included the symbolic portrayal of physical and psychological wounds.  Kahlo was influenced by the indigenous Mexican culture, which is evident in her use of bright colors and dramatic symbolism.