Frida Kahlo - photos by Nickolas Muray

  Right now, at the Fullerton Museum Center in Fullerton, California, there is an exhibit of photographs of Frida Kahlo.  Over the last several decades, Frida has become a cultural icon in Mexico.  Her image is represented in paintings, sculptures, and posters and is also found in hundreds of 'touristy' items sold in stores and by street vendors.

  Initially known only as the wife of Mexican artist, Diego Rivera, Frida began producing her own art in 1932, mostly self-portraits full of passion and pain based on her own personal struggles.  I read at the exhibit that her paintings currently command the highest prices of any artist in this hemisphere.

   The photos in this exhibit were taken by Nickolas Muray, a well-known photographer in the 1930s and 1940s who pioneered color portraiture in photography.  When he met Frida in 1931, they began a romance that would last for the next ten years.  These photos from his collection reveal his mastery of his craft as well as his personal love for his subject, Frida Kahlo.

   For local readers, I highly recommend a visit to the Fullerton Museum Center to see this exhibit, which is ending Sunday, November 20.  The photos below are only a small display of Nickolas Muray's collection.

Titled 'Frida on White Bench'  1939

Titled 'Frida on Rooftop,' taken in New York City when Frida came to the United States for back surgery.  She suffered throughout her life from injuries she sustained in her youth in a bus accident.

Frida kept a menagerie of animals in her home.

Frida.  Frida.  Frida.

Photo taken at Frida's home in Coyoacán, Mexico.  1940

Photos of Frida's paintings - the original still life painting on the right was a gift from her to Nickolas.

Frida dressed almost exclusively in colorful Tehuana costumes (traditional dress of Zapotec women) which complimented her own striking features.

Her hair was often styled with flowers.

A classic photograph of Frida Kahlo with her husband, Diego Rivera.  1941

Fullerton has several large hearts on display in its downtown that have been decorated by local artists.  This  heart, across from the museum, presents a Mexican theme fitting to the exhibit.