In this post: Get the information and resources you need to teach your kids all about Frida Kahlo, one of Mexico’s most renowned artists.
Chances are you’ve heard the name Frida Kahlo before or you’d immediately recognize her in a picture even without knowing her by name. That’s because she was one of Mexico’s most popular artists. Like other famous Hispanic and Latino artists, her legacy continues to inspire and influence many to this day.
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There’s so much to learn from her life and art that can be incorporated while teaching your kids Spanish.
Learning a second language is undoubtedly amazing. It’s even better when you can gain a greater appreciation and understanding of the language by learning about the rich culture of those who speak the language. That includes lessons on the music, food and holidays such as El Día de los Muertos.
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s the perfect time to teach your kids about Frida Kahlo. ¡Vamos!
Table of Contents
Who was Frida Kahlo?
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was one of the most prominent artists of Mexico. Her talent for painting was discovered in what some may deem as an unexpected twist of fate.
At just 18 years old, she got in an accident and had major injuries that called for lots of bed rest. That’s when she started painting! She became increasingly famous over the years and eventually married another artist, Diego Rivera. Though they both traveled abroad and got opportunities to display their artwork, their marriage over the years was a tumultuous one.
After living in the United States for some time, Frida returned to Mexico and became an art teacher. Due to her deteriorating health, she died at the age of 47.
As an artist, Frida accomplished a lot in her relatively short lifetime and was famously known for her bold, colorful self-portraits. She remains an inspiration to the Latina community and people all around the world for the grace and strength with which she overcame her difficulties and the skillful way in which she channeled her pain into paintings.
Famous Words of Frida Kahlo
Here are some of Frida’s most notable quotes:
“No hay nada más hermoso que la risa”
“There is nothing more precious than laughter.”
“La pasión es el puente que te lleva del dolor al cambio.”
“Passion is the bridge that takes you from pain to change.”
“Nunca pinto sueños o pesadillas. Pinto mi propia realidad.”
“I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my reality.”
“Pinto flores para que no mueran.”
“I paint flowers so they will not die.”
Most Famous Art by Frida and the Symbolism in her Paintings
Frida did over 100 paintings in her lifetime, the majority of which were self-portraits for which she became widely known. Her works portrayed some of her most significant moments as well as the extent of pain she endured over the course of her life due to a number of experiences.
Kahlo incorporated aspects of indigenous Mexican culture in her paintings through the use of bright colors and symbolism. One major symbol she used often was the monkey. Though traditionally a symbol of lust in Mexican mythology, she portrayed them as gentle and protective.
Some of her most famous paintings and use of symbolism include:
- The Two Fridas (1939): A piece in which she shows two versions of herself.
- Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird (1940): It is believed to be a representation of her emotions after her divorce from Diego Rivera.
- The Broken Column (1944): A representation of the accident she experienced at 18 years old that shattered her vertebral column among other injuries.
- Self-portrait with curly hair (1935): The curly hair was a symbol of freedom from her husband.
- Self-portrait on the border between Mexico and the United States (1932): This represents her aversion to capitalist culture and yearning to return to Mexico.
This is but a glimpse of the magnificent works of this talented artist. To access one of the largest Frida Kahlo resources online, view her paintings and learn more then be sure to visit this webpage.
Frida Kahlo Museum
The house where Frida Kahlo lived in Coyoacán, Mexico City was converted into a museum and opened 4 years after her death in 1958. It was the desire of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera to establish the museum as a place that all Mexicans can enjoy.
The museum, referred to as La Casa Azul (The Blue House), is revered as the place that inspired many of the artist’s creations and displays some of her work as well as personal items such as photos, documents, books and furnishings. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Mexico City, it’s a must-see.
Educational Videos about Frida Kahlo
Gather as a family to view the following videos and use them to supplement your teachings on Frida Kahlo:
Who was Frida Kahlo?: This brief summary is perfect for kids and complete with English audio and subtitles.
Frida Kahlo Biografía en cuento para niños: Narrated in Spanish, this video can be used with more advanced learners to teach all about the iconic artist in just 5 minutes.
La Casa Azul: Get a virtual glimpse of La Casa Azul. While captions are only in Spanish, the video can be enjoyed by all.
Frida Books for Kids
If you’d like additional reading material, here are our top recommendations for books you can use to help teach your kids all about Frida Kahlo:
Available in English:
- The Story of Frida Kahlo: Inspire your child with this kid-friendly version of Frida Kahlo’s life as they learn the values of strength, resilience and creativity.
- Little People Big Dreams Frida Kahlo: This book tells the story of Friday Kahlo’s life complete with illustrations and a biographical timeline.
Available in Spanish:
- ¿Quién fue Frida Kahlo?: Out top choice for more advanced learners who want to know all about this iconic Mexican artist.
Available in English and Spanish:
- Contando con Frida: Teach your kids numbers 1-10 in English and Spanish while also giving them a glimpse into the life of Frida Kahlo.
- Frida: This bilingual book is perfect for ages 4 to 8 and features stunning illustrations.
- My Little Golden Book About Frida Kahlo: Golden indeed! This gem of a book contains text as well as colorful illustrations inspired by Frida’s artwork and can be used with kids from as early as 2 years old.
As many of the books mentioned above will have similar information, choose your top picks and incorporate others for greater variety. Start by taking a look at our round-up of the best Spanish children’s books to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and support Latinx Authors.
Frida Kahlo Lesson Printables
For even more teaching resources, grab our Llamitas Spanish Frida Kahlo unit in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. This thematic unit was designed for children ages 4 – 8 years and includes:
- An activity pack with tracing, letter recognition, counting cards, coloring pages (of course) and much more
- Vocabulary flashcards
- A digital magazine in Spanish with studies on Frida’s life that can be enjoyed by adults as well
You can also go for our entire seasonal bundle which, along with this Hispanic Heritage Month unit, includes six others: Valentines, Easter, Halloween, Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Purchase the bundle here.
We hope you learned something new and were inspired by Frida’s resilience and powerful works of art. It’s also a reminder to explore and encourage your kids’ talents and creativity, you never know where it may lead them.
Related Posts:
Here’s Why Thematic Spanish Lessons for Kids Actually Works
Top 25 Famous Hispanic and Latino Artists You Should Know
Kimberly is a freelance writer from Trinidad and Tobago who was always fascinated by language and holds a B.A in Spanish with a minor in Linguistics. She considers herself to be a multipotentialite due to her many interests and a few of her favorite things include coffee, pasta and scented candles.