Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican painter known for her deeply personal and symbolic self-portraits. Her work, often influenced by Mexican folk culture and surrealism, explores themes of identity, pain, and resilience.
Despite lifelong health struggles, including the aftermath of a severe bus accident, Kahlo produced iconic art that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Her vibrant imagery and unflinching honesty have made her a lasting cultural and feminist icon.
| July 6, 1907 | Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón is born in Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico, to a German father, Guillermo Kahlo, and a Mexican mother, Matilde Calderón y González. |
| 1913 | At the age of six, Frida contracts polio, leaving her right leg thinner than her left. She wears long skirts to conceal this throughout her life. |
| 1922 | Kahlo enrolls at the National Preparatory School in Mexico City, one of the few female students. She dreams of becoming a doctor and is known for her bright personality and intelligence. During this time, she meets Diego Rivera, who is painting a mural at the school. |
| September 17, 1925 | Kahlo is severely injured in a bus accident. She suffers multiple fractures in her spine, pelvis, and legs, and a handrail pierces her abdomen. Her injuries lead to lifelong pain and medical complications. |
| 1926 | During her recovery, Kahlo begins painting, using a special easel that allows her to paint while lying in bed. She creates her first self-portrait, “Self-Portrait in a Velvet Dress.” |
| 1927 | Kahlo becomes politically active, joining the Mexican Communist Party, where she reconnects with Diego Rivera. |
| 1929 | Frida marries Diego Rivera. Their relationship is passionate but tumultuous, marked by infidelities and intense emotions. |
| 1930 | Frida and Diego move to San Francisco. Kahlo meets many prominent artists and develops her style further. |
| 1931 | She exhibits her work publicly for the first time at the Sixth Annual Exhibition of the San Francisco Society of Women Artists. |
| 1932 | In Detroit, Kahlo suffers a miscarriage, inspiring her painting “Henry Ford Hospital.” Her works become more surreal and deeply personal. |
| 1933 | The couple moves to New York City for Rivera’s commission at the Rockefeller Center. The mural is controversial, and Rivera is eventually dismissed. |
| 1934 | Back in Mexico, Frida undergoes several surgeries. Her marriage with Diego is strained due to his affair with her sister, Cristina. |
| 1937 | Exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky lives with Kahlo and Rivera in their home, the Blue House. Kahlo has a brief affair with Trotsky. |
| 1938 | Frida has her first solo exhibition in New York, organized by surrealist André Breton. Her art receives international attention. She also meets artist Marcel Duchamp. |
| 1939 | Kahlo travels to Paris for an exhibition. The Louvre acquires her painting “The Frame,” making her the first Mexican artist featured in its collection. Frida and Diego divorce later that year. |
| 1940 | Kahlo and Rivera remarry. Her health deteriorates, leading to numerous surgeries. Despite this, she remains active in the art world. |
| 1943 | She begins teaching at La Esmeralda, the School of Painting and Sculpture in Mexico City. Her students, known as “Los Fridos,” are devoted to her. |
| 1946 | Kahlo receives a Mexican government award for her painting “Moses.” Her spinal problems worsen, leading to a failed surgery in New York. |
| 1947-1949 | Despite her declining health, Kahlo continues to paint prolifically, creating some of her most famous works, including “The Wounded Deer.” |
| 1950 | Kahlo is hospitalized for almost a year due to complications from spinal surgery. Her leg is amputated below the knee because of gangrene. |
| 1953 | Frida has her first solo exhibition in Mexico. Despite being bedridden, she attends the opening lying on a bed placed in the gallery. Her health continues to deteriorate. |
| July 13, 1954 | Frida Kahlo dies at the age of 47. The official cause is listed as a pulmonary embolism, but there are suspicions of a possible overdose. |
| 1958 | The Blue House in Coyoacán is turned into the Frida Kahlo Museum. |
| 1970s | Frida Kahlo becomes a feminist and cultural icon, celebrated for her unique style, independence, and representation of Mexican culture. |
| 2002 | The biographical film Frida is released, starring Salma Hayek, further cementing Kahlo’s legacy. |
Timeline of Frida Kahlo
July 6, 1907: Frida Kahlo is Born
Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón is born in Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico, to a German father, Guillermo Kahlo, and a Mexican mother, Matilde Calderón y González. Her father, a photographer, introduces her to the arts from a young age, fostering her creativity and resilience.
Also Read: Frida Kahlo Accomplishments
1913: Frida Contracts Polio
At the age of six, Frida contracts polio, which leaves her right leg thinner than her left. The illness forces her to spend months bedridden, and although she eventually recovers, she is left with a limp. To hide this, she begins wearing long skirts, a fashion choice that would become part of her iconic image.
1922: Frida Enrolls at the National Preparatory School
Kahlo enrolls at the National Preparatory School in Mexico City, one of the few female students at the time. She initially dreams of becoming a doctor and is known for her bright personality and intelligence.
Also Read: Frida Kahlo Facts
During this period, she first meets Diego Rivera, who is painting a mural at the school. This encounter would mark the beginning of a complex and influential relationship.
September 17, 1925: Frida’s Life-Altering Accident
Kahlo is severely injured in a bus accident. She suffers multiple fractures in her spine, pelvis, and legs, and a metal handrail pierces her abdomen.
Her injuries result in lifelong pain and numerous medical complications. During her long recovery, Frida begins to paint, often using a special easel that allows her to paint while lying in bed.
1926: Frida Creates Her First Self-Portrait
While recuperating from the accident, Kahlo creates her first self-portrait, “Self-Portrait in a Velvet Dress.” Her art becomes a powerful means of self-expression and a way to channel her pain and emotions. This painting marks the beginning of her journey as an artist, where self-portraits would become a significant part of her work.
1927: Frida Joins the Mexican Communist Party
Kahlo becomes politically active and joins the Mexican Communist Party. Through this involvement, she reconnects with Diego Rivera, who is also a member. Their shared political interests strengthen their bond, leading to a deeper relationship.
1929: Frida Marries Diego Rivera
Frida and Diego Rivera marry in a union that many describe as a fusion of “an elephant and a dove” due to their contrasting physiques and personalities. Their relationship is passionate but tumultuous, filled with love, creative inspiration, and numerous infidelities. Despite their struggles, they remain deeply connected throughout their lives.
1930: Frida and Diego Move to San Francisco
The couple moves to San Francisco for Diego’s artistic commissions. During this time, Frida meets many prominent artists and further develops her own style. She begins to blend elements of traditional Mexican culture with surrealist influences, although she consistently rejects the label of a surrealist artist.
1931: Frida’s First Public Exhibition
Kahlo exhibits her work publicly for the first time at the Sixth Annual Exhibition of the San Francisco Society of Women Artists. The exhibition increases her confidence as an artist and introduces her work to a broader audience.
1932: Frida Suffers a Miscarriage in Detroit
While living in Detroit, Kahlo suffers a traumatic miscarriage. This experience inspires her to create “Henry Ford Hospital,” a deeply personal painting that delves into themes of fertility, loss, and pain. Her works become increasingly surreal and symbolic, reflecting her inner struggles.
1933: The Couple Moves to New York City
Frida and Diego move to New York City for a commission at the Rockefeller Center. The mural, however, becomes controversial due to its depiction of Communist imagery, leading to Diego’s dismissal from the project. Frida becomes increasingly critical of American capitalism, sentiments that manifest in her work and public statements.
1934: Marital Strains and Surgeries
After returning to Mexico, Frida undergoes several surgeries related to her injuries from the bus accident. At the same time, her marriage with Diego is severely strained due to his affair with her sister, Cristina. Frida channels her pain into her art, producing works filled with raw emotion and symbolism.
1937: Leon Trotsky Moves into the Blue House
Exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky lives with Kahlo and Rivera in their home, the Blue House. Frida and Trotsky have a brief affair, demonstrating her independence and desire for personal freedom. Their friendship and affair are reflected in some of her artwork, highlighting her complex personal life.
1938: Frida’s Solo Exhibition in New York
Frida has her first solo exhibition in New York, organized by the surrealist artist André Breton. Her art receives international attention, and she meets several influential figures, including Marcel Duchamp. Despite being associated with surrealism, Frida insists that her work is not surrealist but rather a reflection of her reality.
1939: Kahlo Travels to Paris and Divorces Rivera
Kahlo travels to Paris for an exhibition, where the Louvre acquires her painting “The Frame,” making her the first Mexican artist featured in its collection. During this year, she and Diego divorce, but their separation is short-lived as they remarry the following year.
1940: Frida and Diego Remarry
Despite their previous conflicts, Kahlo and Rivera remarry. Frida’s health continues to deteriorate, leading to numerous surgeries and increasing pain. Nevertheless, she remains an active and vibrant figure in the Mexican art scene, hosting gatherings of artists and intellectuals at her home.
1943: Frida Begins Teaching at La Esmeralda
Kahlo begins teaching at La Esmeralda, the School of Painting and Sculpture in Mexico City. Her students, who become known as “Los Fridos,” are deeply devoted to her and admire her unique teaching style. Frida encourages them to find their own artistic voices, influencing a new generation of Mexican artists.
1946: Frida Receives Government Award
Kahlo is awarded a national prize for her painting “Moses.” However, her health continues to decline, leading to a failed spinal surgery in New York. Her physical suffering increasingly becomes a central theme in her art, as seen in works like “The Broken Column.”
1947-1949: Prolific Artistic Production
Despite her declining health, Frida continues to produce powerful paintings, including “The Wounded Deer.” Her work during this period reflects both her physical agony and her resilience. Her art gains more recognition in Mexico, and she participates in several exhibitions.
1950: Frida is Hospitalized
Kahlo is hospitalized for almost a year due to complications from spinal surgery. Her leg is amputated below the knee because of gangrene. This loss is a devastating blow, leading to depression, yet she continues to paint and write in her diary.
1953: Frida’s First Solo Exhibition in Mexico
Frida holds her first solo exhibition in Mexico. Despite being bedridden, she attends the opening in a dramatic fashion, arriving in an ambulance and spending the event lying on a bed in the gallery. Her spirit and dedication to art inspire those who attend.
July 13, 1954: Frida Kahlo’s Death
Frida Kahlo dies at the age of 47. The official cause is listed as a pulmonary embolism, though there are suspicions that she may have taken her own life. Her death marks the end of a life filled with artistic passion, pain, and political activism.
1958: The Blue House Becomes the Frida Kahlo Museum
The Blue House in Coyoacán, where Frida was born, lived, and died, is transformed into the Frida Kahlo Museum. The museum preserves her legacy, showcasing her artwork, personal items, and the vibrant culture of Mexico that influenced her life.
1970s: Frida Kahlo Becomes a Cultural Icon
During the feminist movement of the 1970s, Kahlo is rediscovered as an icon of female creativity, resilience, and independence. Her art, once overshadowed by Diego Rivera’s fame, gains international recognition for its honesty, emotional depth, and representation of Mexican culture.
2002: The Film Frida is Released
The biographical film Frida, starring Salma Hayek, is released. The movie introduces a new generation to Frida Kahlo’s life and art, further cementing her status as a beloved and influential artist. The film receives critical acclaim and highlights both her personal struggles and artistic achievements.