Wisdom comes in many forms, but few have captured it so poignantly as Frida Kahlo. An iconic Mexican artist, Kahlo is as renowned today for her fierce tenacity and creative spirit as she is for her beautiful paintings. No wonder, then, that her impact resonates through endless generations.
Kahlo’s many inspirational quotes on life and art have encouraged people to embrace self-expression, push the boundaries of the status quo and see beauty in the midst of harsh realities. Here, we explore the compelling words of Frida Kahlo and the timeless wisdom they hold.
Life Lessons From Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo wasn’t just a renowned artist. She was also a resilient feminist and a wise voice on subjects such as art, suffering and identity. Kahlo’s singular perspective still rings true decades later – capturing timeless wisdom on how to live and how to create. Here’s a sampling of some of her most thought-provoking quotes on life:
On Valuing Your Self Worth:
“Nobody paints me but myself.”
“Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?”
On Nurturing Our Authenticity:
“I am my own muse.”
“I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality.”
On Not Settling:
“I am never sick. I am brave.”
“I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy to be alive as long as I can paint.”
OnBravery in Adversity:
“Nothing isabsolute. Everything changes,everything moves, everything revolves,everything flies and goes away.”
“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light.”
On Speaking Our Truths:
“I speak to you with my heart in my hands.”
“They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn’t. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.”
Kahlo’s Inspirational Quotes on Art
In addition to life lessons, Frida Kahlo also had a unique perspective on the creative process. Her quotes on the artistic journey reveal her deep commitment to her craft, whether drawing strength from her vulnerabilities, extolling the importance of letting go or pushing herself to stay on the path of creative exploration.
On Leveraging Vulnerability:
“I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.”
“I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.”
On Letting Go:
“I don’t think about art when I’m working. I try to think about life.”
“Take a lover who looks at you like maybe you are magic.”
On Striving to Create:
“I paint flowers so they will not die.”
“Painting completed me, and made me complete again.”
On the Benefits of Struggle:
“Every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It’s enough to drive one mad. I have such a desire to do everything, my head is bursting with it.”
“I don’t know how a flower grows but I guess it doesn’t happen without pain.”
In a career that spanned nearly all of the 20th century, Frida Kahlo captured the hearts, minds, and souls of millions around the world with her insightful, outspoken words. As we pause to reflect on the wisdom of Frida Kahlo, her quotes encourage us to stay true to ourselves and strive to reach our creative goals. We can be inspired to dance to our own music, embrace life with joy and abandon old limitations. May we always remember these quotations as sources of strength and guidance.
