Tribute to Frida

“Tribute to Frida” is truly a labor of love. To create her it took about 300 hours and roughly 15,000 tiles. I was inspired

not just by the life of Frida Kahlo but also the rich history of mosaics in Latin American culture. The art of mosaics can

long be traced back to the time of the Aztec and Mayan cultures. The Aztecs and Mayans created beautiful mosaics on

walls and objects depicting everyday life and storytelling. In my piece I chose to tell the story of Frida Kahlo, a strong

Latin American artist, with a mosaic on a female form to celebrate the life and death of Frida.

The Tree of Life (on the right leg)- Through sickness and injuries Frida flourished as artist. The Tree of Life to me represents

Frida’s strength and self-expression through her battle with Polio and her injuries from a traffic accident she survived as a

teenager. After the accident, she became introverted and isolated while recovering from her injuries. While recovering she started

painting to express how she was feeling, what she saw, and telling her story through her art.

Butterflies (on right leg and mid abdomen) and the Flowers (on the lower left leg)- Showcases Frida’s rebirth through her art

after death. Frida was often remembered only as Diego Rivera’s wife. She did not become well known to the public till the end of

the 1970s and early 1980s with the beginning of Neomexicanismo.

Monkey (on the outside of upper left leg) Leaves (on lower back) –Frida used bright colors and dramatic symbolism to show

her influence of the indigenous Mexican Culture. She painted the monkey frequently to portray it as a tender and protective

symbol.

The Hands Creating a Heart (on lower abdomen)- After the accident, Frida’s health would not allow her to bear children. The

hands creating the heart represents her longing and heartache for a child.

Two Hearts with the Connecting Vein (on upper chest)- In the painting “The Two Frida’s” the two hearts represent her German

and Mestiza heritage. I choose to use that same concept to show her continual health struggle throughout her life.

The Large Necklace (on upper chest)-Portrays Frida’s traditional indigenous Mexican peasant clothing to emphasize her

mestiza ancestry.

Portrait of Frida with Flowers in the Background (on the upper back)- Represents a famous photograph by Nickolas Muray

“Frida Kahlo on White Bench, New York (2nd Edition), 1939.