I remember becoming familiar with Frida Kahlo. I have always thought pictures of her were as fantastically colored and interesting as her representations of herself. I love how the symbolism in her self portraits is used to make the portrait a complete and accurate portrayal of herself at a given time.The more familiar I became with Mexico and the folk art of Mexico while I studied there the more I could see her heritage in her work. It seems simple enough that she would draw on what was familiar to her. That is exactly what draws me to her work again and again. She never pursued a formal art education yet she certainly came to a mature style that is severely distinguished from her early works. The thread that ties her body of work together is the rootedness in Mexican folk art.

I have felt hot and cold about Kahlo's work, probably because she became so popular that I wanted to not like her anymore. Yet I come back. She has made a connection with people even long after her death by reappearing on handbags, jewelry, and reproductions. I cannot ignore my utter astonishment that a self-taught artist has created such a legacy simply by being true to herself.