“Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life” at New York Botanical Garden

If you’re a fan of Frida Kahlo you don’t want to miss, “Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life” at the New York Botanical Garden. The exhibit offers a glimpse into the artist’s life with a collection of her portraits, still life paintings, and a replica of her garden and desk as they are at La Casa Azul (The Blue House) located in Coyoacán, Mexico in Colonia del Carmen. The exhibit also includes an homage to Frida’s painting, “The Two Fridas (1939)” by Humberto Spíndolza.

An homage to Frida’s painting, “The Two Fridas (1939)” by Humberto Spíndolza. Photo by: Ana Pine

Frida’s art channeled her anguish and tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera. “There have been two great accidents in my life. One was the trolley, and the other was Diego. Diego was by far the worst,” she stated. Her accident occurred when she was 18 on September 17, 1925. Doctors were surprised she survived a crash between a trolley and the bus she was on. She injured her spinal column, broke ribs, fractured her right leg, dislocated her pelvis and had a steel handrail go through her abdomen. Her injuries left her infertile and caused her a lifetime of physical and emotional pain

Diego’s numerous affairs had no boundaries and certainly didn’t help her. Frida turned a blind eye and found her own solace in outside affairs including some of the same women Diego slept with and powerful men like Leon Trotsky. It wasn’t until Diego slept with her younger sister that she filed for divorce. Regardless of the pain caused she would find herself back with him later on.

Wall replica of Casa Azul at New York Botanical Garden. Photo by: Ana Pines

The tribute combined with the lush surroundings of The New York Botanical Garden is the perfect day trip for you and your family. The garden is a National Historic Landmark founded in 1891. There are over one million diverse living plants covering the 250-acre site. The Garden is located at Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road in the Bronx, and can be reached by car, subway, bus, and Metro-North.

“Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life” runs from May 16 until November 1, 2015.
Tickets, tips and directions: http://www.nybg.org