Frida Kahlo July 1907 – July 1954

Frida Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907, in her parents' house known as La Casa Azul, on the outskirts of Mexico City.La Casa Azul Frida was the third of four daughters and had two older step-sisters for a total of 5 siblings. Frida contracted polio at age six, which left her right leg thinner than the left; she disguised this later in life by wearing long, colorful skirts. On September 17, 1925, Frida was riding in a bus that collided with a trolley car. She was in a full body cast for months; she had 35 operations to fix all the injuries which followed.

After her accident, Frida abandoned the study of medicine to begin a painting career. She painted to occupy her time during her temporary immobilization. Frida created at least 140 paintings; 55 are self-portraits. Frida was also influenced by Mexican culture, which is apparent in her use of bright colors, dramatic symbolism and primitive style.

She married Diego Rivera in 1929 but they never had children. Frida died on July 13, 1954, soon after turning 47. Aside from the 1939 acquisition by the Louvre, Kahlo's work was not widely acclaimed until decades after her death. It was not until the end of the 1970s and the early 1980s, that she became well-known to the public.

Self-Portrait with Monkey Painted in 1938 Painted in Oil On Display at Albright- Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY