One of my favorite artists is Frida Kahlo. She was a Mexican painter known for her self-portraits and use of bright, vibrant colors. Frida Kahlo had a very difficult life. She suffered from polio as a child, and when she was a teenager, she was in a terrible bus accident that resulted in many injuries. She also had a challenging relationship with her husband, Diego Rivera (who was also a Mexican painter.) Frida channeled her experiences and challenges into her art. In many of her pieces, she showed injustices in the world, especially injustice towards women. She also has many pieces that show her pride and love for Mexico and Mexican culture.
My family and I had the chance to visit Frida Kahlo’s Timeless exhibition when it was in the Cleve Carney Museum of Art at the College of DuPage this past summer. What a wonderful experience! It was amazing to see Frida’s work up close and in person. I also loved seeing the beautiful photographs of Frida. My favorite is the candid photo at the beginning of this post. She doesn’t seem to know someone is taking a picture of her. She appears to be deep in thought, and you can almost feel what she feels by looking at the photo–just like her paintings.
Read more about this revolutionary woman and artist by checking out the books below! And if you would like to create your own self-portrait like Frida, register to join us for Painting Around the World on Thursday, October 14.
Frida Kahlo by Czeena Devera, illustrated by Jeff Bane
Part of the My Itty-Bitty Bio series, this book is great for beginning readers who want to learn more about Frida Kahlo. It also includes photographs of Frida, her home and her family, as well as a timeline and glossary.
Find it here
Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown, illustrated by John Parra
Frida had many pets in her home in Mexico. In addition to dogs, cats and birds, she also had spider monkeys, deer and more! This picture book biography introduces us to Frida’s furry family and how they inspired her work.
Find it here
The Story of Frida Kahlo by Susan B. Katz, illustrated by Ana Sanfelippo
This beginning chapter book offers a lot of information in a short biography. There are also vibrant illustrations and a fun quiz at the end to test your Frida Kahlo knowledge!
Find it here
The Two Fridas: Memories by Frida Kahlo, illustrated by Gianluca Folí
This book uses entries from Frida’s diary to tell the story of the friend that Frida imagined as a child. These memories are said to have inspired one of Frida Kahlo’s most famous paintings.
Find it here
Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales, photography by Tim O’Meara
This beautiful picture book is in English and Spanish and uses photographed 3D art to tell the story. Look closely to catch a glimpse of Frida wearing her famous hand-shaped earrings, a gift from fellow artist Pablo Picasso.
Find it here
Who Was Frida Kahlo? by Sarah Fabiny, illustrated by Jerry Hoare
Part of the Who Was series, this chapter book biography is filled with information about Frida Kahlo’s life and art. It also includes a timeline of her life and resources to read more.