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A compendium of queer people in the 19th and 20th centuries // Drawn and written by Michele Rosenthal

Frida  Kahlo

Frida Kahlo 1907to –1954

Painter and Mexican cultural icon. She is mostly known for her self portraits, rooted in folk art and surrealism. A terrible traffic accident when she was a teenager left her struggling with lifelong injuries and constant pain. Her personal trials became a frequent subject of her work, in addition to her experiences as a woman and her love of Mexico. At 22, she married fellow artist Diego Rivera. They were both outspoken in Mexican politics, and they both had affairs during their difficult marriage; Kahlo’s lovers included men and women. When she wasn’t wearing elaborate traditional costumes, Kahlo would often cross-dress, and both can be seen in her paintings. It wasn’t until decades after her death that her work received the widespread popularity it has today.

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