The Frida Kahlo Influence
See how you can embrace Frida Kahlo's revolutionary beauty and style in your home, using these inspirational images as your starting point
Sydneysiders and visitors are currently enjoying a rare opportunity to revel in the masterpieces of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo at the moment, this time alongside the work of her husband Diego Rivera at an Art Gallery of NSW exhibition called Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera: from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection. The exhibition has already attracted one of the gallery’s highest-ever advance ticket sales prior to opening, and runs until 9 October, 2016.
According to Nicholas Chambers, senior art curator at the Art Gallery of NSW, Kahlo’s style “turned inwards and represented Mexicanidad through an exploration of her personal identity.” From the flowers in her hair, to her iconic monobrow and colourful jewellery, Kahlo’s artworks represent a strong, influential female figure. In fact, so popular is this feminist icon of Mexican 20th-century art that she has influenced style across the globe. Take a look at how Houzzers are finding inspiration from the colour, abstract beauty and mystery behind one of Mexico’s most famous artists within their own homes.
According to Nicholas Chambers, senior art curator at the Art Gallery of NSW, Kahlo’s style “turned inwards and represented Mexicanidad through an exploration of her personal identity.” From the flowers in her hair, to her iconic monobrow and colourful jewellery, Kahlo’s artworks represent a strong, influential female figure. In fact, so popular is this feminist icon of Mexican 20th-century art that she has influenced style across the globe. Take a look at how Houzzers are finding inspiration from the colour, abstract beauty and mystery behind one of Mexico’s most famous artists within their own homes.
If you want a blue influence in your own house, but don’t want to paint the entire abode, why not try it with a backyard shed or single wall? Add lots of flowers or some desert-loving cacti to complete the Kahlo look.
Accessorise with flowers
Kahlo was all about accessories in her personal style – from her colourful jewellery to the iconic flowers in her hair. This fun vase by Lovestar is the perfect representation of Kahlo’s signature style, both through the colourful representation of the artist herself, and the playful placement of posies. Homeowner and stylist Petrina Turner regularly changes over the flowers in this vase, to make sure Kahlo is always looking ‘phresh’.
Kahlo was all about accessories in her personal style – from her colourful jewellery to the iconic flowers in her hair. This fun vase by Lovestar is the perfect representation of Kahlo’s signature style, both through the colourful representation of the artist herself, and the playful placement of posies. Homeowner and stylist Petrina Turner regularly changes over the flowers in this vase, to make sure Kahlo is always looking ‘phresh’.
Colour clash
Frida Kahlo channelled traditional Mexican matriarchal Tehuantepec fashion and rejected any trends, instead opting for bold colour and pizzaz. Her outfits often clashed, but she showed there was beauty in this. This living room by House + House Architects demonstrates a very Frida Kahlo stance with bold yellow, pink and orange.
Frida Kahlo channelled traditional Mexican matriarchal Tehuantepec fashion and rejected any trends, instead opting for bold colour and pizzaz. Her outfits often clashed, but she showed there was beauty in this. This living room by House + House Architects demonstrates a very Frida Kahlo stance with bold yellow, pink and orange.
Bring home some exoticism
In Kahlo’s paintings exoticism ruled, with bright colours, cultural motifs and exotic animals often sitting dutifully on her shoulders. Here, a sculptural parrot sits proudly amid a variety of Mexican-inspired colours and folky prints, taking inspiration from the exuberance we’ve come to love about Kahlo’s style.
In Kahlo’s paintings exoticism ruled, with bright colours, cultural motifs and exotic animals often sitting dutifully on her shoulders. Here, a sculptural parrot sits proudly amid a variety of Mexican-inspired colours and folky prints, taking inspiration from the exuberance we’ve come to love about Kahlo’s style.
See everything as a canvas
Kahlo never limited herself to a stretched cotton or linen canvas – she painted and drew on all types of mediums. She even painted a work of art on her cast while recovering from a car crash. The walls of a small bathroom could be the perfect canvas to let you get creative with vibrant Mexican colours and themes like this mural.
Kahlo never limited herself to a stretched cotton or linen canvas – she painted and drew on all types of mediums. She even painted a work of art on her cast while recovering from a car crash. The walls of a small bathroom could be the perfect canvas to let you get creative with vibrant Mexican colours and themes like this mural.
Learn to love animals
A renowned lover of animals, 55 of Kahlo’s 143 paintings are self-portraits featuring her much-loved pets. The vibrant colours and intricate patterns surrounding the tiger in this Catalina Estrada wallpaper are very Frida Kahlo, as is the focus on the exotic animal itself.
A renowned lover of animals, 55 of Kahlo’s 143 paintings are self-portraits featuring her much-loved pets. The vibrant colours and intricate patterns surrounding the tiger in this Catalina Estrada wallpaper are very Frida Kahlo, as is the focus on the exotic animal itself.
Find beauty in yourself
Some of Kahlo’s most famous pieces are self-portraits. She once famously said: “I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.” Of course, to ensure her iconic characteristics were translated onto the canvas, she would have needed a beautiful big mirror at home. This large etched timber-framed one would work perfectly, and it enhances the sense of space in this hall.
TELL US
Have you decorated your home with Kahlo-inspired style? We’d love to see – post a photo in the Comments!
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Some of Kahlo’s most famous pieces are self-portraits. She once famously said: “I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.” Of course, to ensure her iconic characteristics were translated onto the canvas, she would have needed a beautiful big mirror at home. This large etched timber-framed one would work perfectly, and it enhances the sense of space in this hall.
TELL US
Have you decorated your home with Kahlo-inspired style? We’d love to see – post a photo in the Comments!
MORE
Read the most popular stories on Houzz
Kahlo’s La Casa Azul in Coyoacán, Mexico City, is where she lived with husband Diego Rivera between 1929 and 1954. Now a museum, the house is just as colourful as Kahlo was, painted in an eye-catching cobalt blue and with deep red accents. The couple spent a lot of time in the garden enjoying the warm Mexican sunshine.