Frida Kahlo (1907–1954) was born in La Casa Azul (at least, according to her), lived most of her life there, and died there. As a child, she was beset by a number of health issues, including polio, and survived a bus accident at age 18 that required multiple surgeries and led to a lifetime of physical hardship.
She was married to Diego Rivera—twice, in fact. During her lifetime, her career was overshadowed by his. But today, that might be reversed. In some circles, Diego Rivera might be referred to as “the guy who was married to Frida Kahlo!”
If you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit the Frida Kahlo House, here are some things that you should be sure to see.
1. Take a Walk in the Neighborhood
Buy your tickets in advance! The Frida Kahlo House is fully booked every day. It will be nearly impossible to get a ticket on the day of your visit. Get there at least an hour before your timed entry and take a walk through the neighborhood. The House is a bright cobalt blue, but the rest of the Colonia del Carmen neighborhood is just as colorful.
There are plenty of great coffee shops and cafés within steps of the Frida Kahlo House. Leon Trotsky’s house, where he was eventually assassinated at Stalin’s behest, is just a few blocks away and well worth a quick visit.
2. The Courtyard
When you enter La Casa Azul, you immediately find yourself in a very large and vibrant courtyard with yellow and red floors, and cobalt blue walls with green trim. Take your time to find the secret nooks and crannies, gardens full of succulents, mosaic ponds, and sculptures from all periods of Mexican history.
3. The Displays
While touring her home you’ll notice various displays of body casts and braces among the photos of her recuperating in bed.
One can appreciate how Kahlo used her art to provide an outlet for the physical challenges she endured throughout her life. The braces also show just how tiny she was!
4. The Kitchen
Frida went out of her way to make this home a shrine to the love she shared with Diego. Just look at the kitchen!
The names and ornaments around them are made with dollhouse teacups affixed to the wall.
5. Photographs
There is a huge collection of photographs on display, documenting her entire life—as a girl, as a woman, as a patient, as Diego Rivera’s partner, as a painter, as an activist, and more.
This one looks strikingly like Kahlo’s painting of herself and Diego that hangs at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
6. Paintings
Frida’s paintings are in other museums in Mexico City and in museum collections around the world (New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Paris). The collection at the Frida Kahlo House is relatively small, but the select few here are inspiring.
Frida Kahlo got pregnant when she and Rivera were in Detroit in 1932. She elected to have an induced abortion, which failed. She was told that she would be able to carry the baby to term and deliver via Cesarian section. But that was not to be; she had a very difficult miscarriage.
In this painting, the fetus is simultaneously in her belly, being taken out by the doctors in the upper left and as a newborn by her side in the bed. Diego Rivera is there, as are the flasks of the solutions used in the failed abortion. The vulnerability that Kahlo shows here and her view of real and imagined outcomes is remarkable.
7. Her Worktable
It appears as though her table is surrounded by stained-glass windows, but it is actually clear glass panes in different widths, with the colors outside in the courtyard creating the illusion of stained-glass.
8. Her Dressing Table
Frida’s cremains are in the toady urn that sits on her dressing table, which is now something of a shrine.
The photographer was focused on the display and was surprised to see himself in the photograph.
9. The Patti Smith Poem
On the way out, on the wall, there is a poem from Patti Smith—the godmother of punk rock. Her words capture the admiration we all have for Frida Kahlo and her story.
10. Paint Your Own Self-Portrait!
What better way to end your visit than by releasing your own inner Frida Kahlo and painting your own self-portrait in the courtyard?! Supplies provided!
Guest Author’s Bio:
Terin Christensen is an artist and photographer based in Northern California. In addition to her own artistic endeavors, she organizes and hosts periodic “Art Soirees” that bring together local artists to share their work and discuss their creative process. You can find her work here.