Abby Connolly
Frida Kahlo is considered one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. So many people have seen her portraits hung in some of the most famous art galleries or reposted on social media. But do you know the full story of legendary artist Frida Kahlo’s life?
Frida was born in Mexico City in 1907. During her younger years, Frida faced many challenges that she had to overcome, like when she contracted polio at only six years old, which crippled her right leg and gave her a limp.
She started developing a love for the arts as a young girl, sketching and working with her father, who was a photographer. However, it wasn’t until after a tragic accident that she took up painting.
When she was 18, Frida was on a bus returning home from school in 1925 when a streetcar crashed into it. Several of the passengers on board died. Frida was found with an iron handrail pierced through her pelvis like a sword, but she miraculously survived.
Although Frida lived to see another day after the crash, she endured years of torment with her battered and recovering body. She had to have at least 30 surgeries, as her abdomen, pelvis, uterus, legs, spine, etc., all suffered intense injuries.
Frida’s body was never the same after the accident. She had to be bedridden for a long time, and she began to express her pain and emotions through artwork, particularly paintings.
Frida was also a very politically active person. When she was 21 years old, she joined the Mexican Communist Party. At one of their gatherings, she was reintroduced to artist Diego Rivera in 1928.
Although he was 21 years older than her and her parents didn’t approve of their relationship, Frida and David got married in 1929.
Her relationship with Diego certainly didn’t help her heal, as he was often unfaithful. They tried to have a child, but Frida lost the baby, which may have been because of her former injuries.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.