Frida & Magnolias (2023)

Oil on canvas (18x24”)

My love affair with Frida began a couple years ago when I saw Salma Hayek’s portrayal of the famous artist in Frida (2002). Frida Kahlo faced many physical challenges in her young life, which affected her chronically. As a young girl, she had Polio, which weakened her legs. When she was in high school, she was involved in a bus crash that left her with lifelong injuries. She began painting as a way to pass the time during her recovery. She had an easel custom built to be positioned above her while she laid on her back so that she could occupy her time during her recovery. Frida painted herself using a mirror. She explored themes of pain, identity, death, Mexican culture in a post-colonial society through her work.

For this portrait of Frida, I wanted to be able to show her strength of spirit. This is the face of a woman who lived with physical and emotional pain. You can see the weight of her pain but above all you see the resilience and strength in her eyes.