Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter known for her self-portraits who lived from 1910 to 1954. She was in a bus accident at age 18 that left her disabled and in constant pain, undergoing over 30 surgeries. While recovering from her injuries, she taught herself to paint and would continue to paint self-portraits that reflected her physical and emotional pain. Her art gained recognition after her death and her paintings can now be seen in museums worldwide.

1. Frida
Kahlo
Mexican Painter
1910 - 1954

2. Frida Kahlo grew up in her family home,
Casa Azul, (Blue House), in Mexico.

3. Her father was a
photographer.
He took this picture
of Frida lying across
the chair with her
sisters.

4. She was a happy
child although an
illness crippled one
of her legs.
Here she is at 16.

5. At 18, she was in a horrible bus accident. A
metal rail went through her stomach.

6. She was not expected to live.

7. Frida taught herself to paint while her
broken bones healed.

8. She had over 30 operations to fix her broken
bones.

9. While she was in
a body cast she
painted.
She painted on
her cast when it
was removed.

10. She was never healthy again.

11. Many of her
paintings were
self-portraits,
pictures of
herself.

12. Frida painted her pets,

13. Dogs,

14. And monkeys around her.

15. Sometimes they are
sitting on her
shoulders in the
paintings.

16. Frida married the famous artist Diego
Rivera.

17. She painted this
picture of their
wedding day.

18. She painted Diego’s picture.

19. Can you see what
is on Frida’s
forehead?

20. Why would Diego
be on her
forehead?

21. She began to
wear a
traditional
costume of
Mexican
woman, braids
and frilly
dresses.

22. She wanted
people to know
that she was
proud to be a
Mexican.

23. Her art was not well known until almost 20
years after her death.

25. Today her paintings can be seen in
museums around the world.

26. Her beloved Blue House is now a museum
dedicated to her life and work.