1907 – Born on July 6 in Coyoacán, Mexico City

Frida Kahlo was born Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón in the family home now known as La Casa Azul. Her father, Guillermo Kahlo, was a German-Mexican photographer. Her mother, Matilde Calderón, was of Spanish and Indigenous descent.

1913 – Contracts polio at age six

The illness left her right leg thinner and weaker than the left. She wore long skirts for the rest of her life to hide the difference. Her recovery was marked by isolation, which pushed her inward — toward books, drawing, and introspection.

1922 – Admitted to the National Preparatory School at age 15

One of the few girls in a prestigious institution, Frida planned to study medicine. She was surrounded by intellectuals, artists, and activists. This is where she first encountered Diego Rivera, who was painting a mural on the school wall.

1925 – The accident that changed everything

At 18, a streetcar collided with the bus she was riding. A metal handrail pierced her pelvis. Her spine, collarbone, ribs, pelvis, and leg were shattered. She was bedridden for months and underwent over 30 surgeries across her life. During recovery, she began to paint seriously — using a mirror above her bed and a custom easel made by her father.

1926 – Paints her first self-portrait

While healing, she created Self-Portrait in a Velvet Dress. It wasn't just art — it was reclamation. Frida Kahlo no longer wanted to be a doctor. She wanted to diagnose herself through painting.