Wisdom of Frida Kahlo on Creativity, Strength and Unapologetic Self-Expression

I thought it was time to introduce another extraordinary woman to the Wild Hearts, Free Spirits blog series—one whose life, art and unapologetic expression have had a profound impact on my own journey.
Frida Kahlo, one of the most celebrated and beloved painters from Mexico, was not only a woman of fierce spirit and immense talent but also a beacon of resilience, rebellion and authenticity.

Born in 1907, her life was an embodiment of both pain and beauty—a rich tapestry woven with physical suffering, emotional complexity, cultural pride, and unshakable self-expression. Her art—largely self-portraits—captured the rawness of the female experience, the depth of identity, and the vibrancy of Mexican culture with unapologetic honesty and fearless truth-telling.

Frida painted her inner world with such power and vulnerability that she gave voice to the struggle, strength, and sacredness of being a woman. Her chronic pain, the result of a tragic bus accident in her youth, shaped not only her body but the bold, symbolic beauty of her work. She painted through heartbreak, longing, and love—her tumultuous relationship with fellow artist Diego Rivera, her yearning for motherhood, and her profound connection to her roots.

Throughout her life, Frida Kahlo remained unapologetically herself—wild, creative, untamed by societal expectations.
Her life and legacy have inspired me deeply: to honour my story with reverence, to create from the soul, to embrace both the joy and the ache and to live as colourfully and courageously as I can. I am so excited to share the wisdom and lessons I have gained from her life and art—lessons in strength, love, identity, creativity and the power of turning pain into beauty.

Keep reading to immerse yourself in the untamed spirit and unforgettable legacy of Frida Kahlo.

As I choose to reflect on the life of Frida, I feel incredibly lucky to know women in my own life who embody that same spirit. These are women who walk, think and dress with the same vibrant energy that Frida did. They live boldly, wear their colours with pride and embrace life in all its messiness. Like Frida, they inspire me with their courage to be unapologetically themselves. In many ways, they are modern-day Fridas—wild, free and untamed by societal expectations.

I invite you to explore the wisdom and lessons we can gain from the extraordinary and colourful life of Frida Kahlo and the legacy she left behind.

Keep reading to immerse yourself in the wisdom and lessons of Frida Kahlo, a soul who turned pain into power and art into truth.

Embrace Your Pain and Transform It Into Power: Frida Kahlo had a life that was marked by intense physical and emotional pain. After a devastating bus accident when she was just 18 years old, Frida lived with chronic pain for the rest of her life. Multiple surgeries, hospital stays and long periods of bed rest became a regular part of her existence. Instead of letting this pain defeat her, Frida transformed it into art. Her paintings often depict her suffering—whether through broken bodies, tears or symbolic representations of her inner turmoil.

In works like The Broken Column and The Two Fridas, we see how she used her art to process her pain and make it visible. She didn’t hide from her suffering; instead, she invited the world to witness it. This act of vulnerability, of turning pain into something beautiful, is one of the most powerful lessons we can take from her life.

Wild Lesson: Pain, whether physical or emotional, is an inevitable part of life. Frida shows us, we have the power to transform our suffering into something meaningful. When we face our pain head-on and channel it into our passions, we turn it into a source of strength. Frida teaches us that our pain doesn’t define us—it’s how we respond to it that shapes our lives.

Be Unapologetically Yourself: Frida Kahlo lived by her own rules. She was a woman who refused to conform to societal expectations of beauty, femininity, or even how an artist should be. Her iconic unibrow, bold fashion choices and unapologetic attitude toward life set her apart from the norm. She was known for wearing traditional Tehuana dresses, bright flowers in her hair and vibrant colours that reflected her deep connection to Mexican culture. Frida’s style was not just an expression of her identity—it was a form of resistance. She rejected the Western standards of beauty and embraced her roots fully and proudly.

In her self-portraits, she didn’t idealise or romanticise her appearance. Instead, she painted herself with honesty, showing her unibrow, her moustache and the rawness of her emotions. In Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair, she challenges gender norms by depicting herself in a suit, having just cut off her long hair after a separation from Diego Rivera. She made a bold statement about autonomy and freedom—this is who I am, take it or leave it.

Wild Lesson: The life of Frida is a testament to the power of being unapologetically yourself. She teaches us that we don’t need to fit into society’s narrow definitions of beauty, success, or womanhood. By embracing who we truly are, we liberate ourselves from the pressure to conform and in doing so, we inspire others to do the same.

Use Your Passion as a Form of Healing: For Frida, art was more than just a career—it was a lifeline. After her accident, when she was confined to bed for months at a time, she began painting as a way to pass the time. Painting soon became much more than that. Her art was a way for her to process her emotions, to express the things she couldn’t put into words and to heal from the pain she carried.

Her paintings are deeply personal, often depicting her struggles with physical pain, infertility and her complex relationship with Diego. Through her art, Frida was able to confront the darkest parts of her life and transform them into something beautiful. She painted not only her pain but also her dreams, her desires and her hopes for the future.

Wild Lesson: Our passions can be a powerful tool for healing. Whether it’s painting, writing, dancing or any other creative outlet, expressing ourselves through our passions allows us to process our emotions and heal from within. Creativity gives us the freedom to explore our inner worlds and make sense of our experiences.

Celebrate Your Roots and Culture: The connection Frida held to her Mexican heritage was central to her identity. She often incorporated elements of Mexican folk art, indigenous symbols and traditional clothing into her work, celebrating the richness of her culture. Her paintings are filled with references to Mexican history, mythology and nature. She proudly portrayed herself as a Mexican woman.

In works like The Love Embrace of the Universe, the Earth (Mexico), Diego, Me and Señor Xólotl, Frida merges her personal experiences with symbols of Mexican culture and mythology, showing her deep reverence for her roots. Her use of vibrant colours, traditional Mexican dress and imagery from Mexican folklore became a hallmark of her style.

Wild Lesson: Frida reminds us of the importance of celebrating where we come from. Our heritage and culture are an integral part of who we are, and by honouring them, we connect more deeply with ourselves and the world around us. There is strength in embracing our roots and carrying them forward with pride.

Love Fiercely, Even When It’s Messy: The love Frida had for Diego Rivera was one of the most defining aspects of her life. Their relationship was intense, passionate and often tumultuous. Both artists were unfaithful to each other and their marriage was filled with emotional highs and lows. Yet, despite the pain and heartbreak, Frida loved Diego deeply and unapologetically.

In many of her paintings, Frida explores the complexity of her relationship with Diego, such as in Diego on My Mind, where she portrays herself with Diego’s face on her forehead, symbolising his constant presence in her thoughts. Frida loved fiercely, even when it hurt and she wasn’t afraid to show the messy, imperfect sides of love.

Wild Lesson: Love, like life, is rarely perfect. Frida teaches us that it is okay to love deeply, even when it’s complicated. She reminds us that love, in all its forms, is a powerful force that shapes our lives. To love fiercely, even when it’s messy, is to embrace the full spectrum of human experience.

As I reflect on the life and lasting legacy of Frida Kahlo, I am reminded of the incredible women in my own life who walk with the same spirit. I am lucky to know women who, like Frida, walk through the world with boldness and colour. These women think, dress and live unapologetically, embracing their own uniqueness with pride. They inspire me to live with the same wild heart that Frida did—to embrace life in all its messy, vibrant beauty.

The life of Frida Kahlo was one of unaplogetic authenticity, courage and creativity. She was a woman who painted her own story, without fear or hesitation and in doing so, she empowered generations of women to do the same. Her legacy continues to inspire us to embrace our imperfections, celebrate our roots and live boldly.

As we honour the wildly creative heart of Frida, let us carry forward the lessons she left behind: to transform our pain into power, to be unapologetically ourselves, to use our passions for healing, to celebrate our roots and to love fiercely.

The life of Frida Kahlo is a beautiful reminder that we as wild and wonderful women also have the power to paint our own lives with the colours of authenticity, courage and boundless creativity.