A Mexican artist by trade, she is often considered one of her nation’s finest creative minds. She is often remembered for her political activities, but her depictions of local culture and self-portraits are treasured. Surviving polio at a young age and then a bus accident, she turned what could have been a difficult life into one that continues to make an impact today.
1. More Tragedy
Because of the injuries she sustained in the bus accident, Kahlo was ultimately unable to have children. She suffered several miscarriages in her attempt to have children. Married to a muralist named Diego Rivera, she and her husband ultimately lived separate lives as both had relationships with others. Kahlo was even an outspoken bisexual, known to have had several relationships with women while married.
2. A Grand Entrance
Kahlo received her first solo exhibition just about 1 year before her death. She’d been in the hospital with gangrene for several months and was bedridden when the exhibition was scheduled. Never one to miss an opportunity, Kahlo arrived by ambulance to the event and spent the evening sitting up in a bed that was in the main gallery.
3. The Blue House
Kahlo’s home in Mexico City is the most visited museum in the city. It is a home that tells many tales, including the support of Communism. When Leon Trotsky was exiled in 1937, her home became his family’s place of safety. Kahlo was also an active member of the nation’s Communist Party and was part of the Young Communist League.
4. Internationally Known
The Louvre in France is considered one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world. Millions visit its halls every year. The museum purchased one of her paintings, giving Kahlo the honor of being the first 20th century Mexican artist to have work featured at the museum.
5. That’s a Monkey
In Mexican culture, the monkey is often considered a negative image of lust. In Kahlo’s paintings, however, the monkey is often included as a figure that deserves to be treasured. They are portrayed, in fact, in a way that is protective of the sometimes destructive emotion.
In 2006, one of Kahlo’s paintings sold for $5.6 million. For a life that was often filled with hurt and pain, her creative work stands as a testimony to the strength of the human soul.
