frida kahlo: her universe

this compendium presents the rich diversity of themes, ideas, concepts, and emotions surrounding two fundamental and iconic figures of modern mexico: painter frida kahlo and her husband, muralist diego rivera. more than 300 images from the archives of the museo frida kahlo in mexico city offer readers a glimpse into kahlo’s distinctive wardrobe, the impressive collections of popular and pre-hispanic art she assembled with rivera, her connection with photography, and the history of la casa azul, her beloved blue home that now serves as the museum’s main building. this volume invites readers into frida kahlo’s world, exploring the legacy of an essential figure in 20th-century art and culture, both in her native mexico and around the globe. frida kahlo (1907–54) began painting at the age of 18 after being immobilized for several months following a bus crash that left her permanently disabled. from then on, art became a profound source of healing and a powerful means of self-expression and cultural exploration. at the center of kahlo’s practice was her deep connection to mexican folk traditions, her committed political beliefs, and her complex relationship with her body, gender, and sexuality. a lifelong activist, kahlo died of a pulmonary embolism after participating in a demonstration against the cia’s invasion of guatemala.