Frida Kahlo made a name for herself as an artist by taking her life’s pain and turning it into honest masterpieces. She is probably most known for her innovative and, at times, haunting self-portraits.
Her work was influenced heavily by her childhood bout with polio and her grueling recovery from a near-fatal bus accident. Many of her paintings from this time show how she viewed herself and her damaged but healing body. Frida was not one to mask her feelings with her art: she took each wound and put it on the canvas, and perhaps that is why her work has resonated with so many people.
Frida was born in Mexico in 1907, right before the tumultuous times of the Mexican Revolution. Her work and clothing often showcased the bright colors and cultural symbols of her native country.
Frida was an unconventional style icon. Her hair was almost always pulled back, with bright blossoms pinned in. Not an accessory minimalist, she wore big earrings and bold, layered necklaces of bright beads and gold. She added rings on many of her fingers. Red lips finished off her look perfectly.
She was frequently photographed in dresses and blouse-and-peasant-skirt combinations that were popular among women in Mexico at the time. Her clothing reflected the colors and overall tone seen in her paintings. Clothing in bright colors, like red and turquoise, along with her bold use of accessories, made her look iconic.
She was a unique individual who did not try to gloss over her troubles: instead she transformed them into something positive. People can still see her works and be touched by the raw emotion of each painting. We are inspired not just by her look, but also by her attitude, fearlessness, and strength.
written by Lisa Hong
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2009 issue of ELIZA Magazine
