FOR THE LOVE OF FRIDA
Celebrating the Great Female Painter
With the launch of Emily Rapp Black’s book Frida Khalo And My Left Leg, we wanted to pay a little homage to the great Mexican painter who is remembered for her vibrant self-portraits depicting the pain and passion of life. Read on to hear more about Emily’s book, Frida’s sense of style, and our favourite artists working today.
FRIDA KHALO AND MY LEFT LEG
Frida Kahlo and My Left Leg by New York Times bestselling author Emily Rapp Black is an amputee’s personal examination of how the experiences, art and disabilities of Frida Kahlo shaped her life.
At first sight of Kahlo’s painting The Two Fridas, Emily Rapp Black felt an instant connection with the artist. An amputee from childhood, Rapp Black grew up with a succession of prosthetic limbs, and learned that she had to hide her disability from the world. Kahlo sustained lifelong injuries after a horrific bus crash and her right leg was eventually amputated. In Kahlo’s art, Rapp Black recognised her own life, from the numerous operations to the compulsion to create to silence pain. Here she tells her story of losing her infant son to Tay Sachs, giving birth to a daughter, and learning to accept her body. She writes of how Frida Kahlo inspired her to find a way forward when all seemed lost.
Frida Khalo And My Left Leg is published by Notting Hill Editions. Check out the journal post below for our interview with the the company’s managing director, Kim Kremer.
BOSS LADY: KIM KREMER
HOW TO DRESS LIKE AN ICON
Frida Kahlo is arguably just as known for her idiosyncratic sense of fashion as she is her artwork. She drew inspiration from her heritage with Mexican Tehuana dresses derived from the matriarchal society located in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, in Oaxaca State. The style featured full skirts, embroidered blouses and elaborate hairstyles featuring bright colours, contrasting fabrics and plenty of floral prints.
Want to emulate this look? Find below our edit of dresses Frida might just have approved of.
FROM THE ELLIE LINES JOURNAL: INSTAGRAM ARTISTS WE LOVE
Instagram is not only a place to share photos with friends, but also a place to discover new things that inspire you. Nothing brightens up your feed better than a beautiful picture made by an amazing artist you have only just found out about. Here at Ellie Lines we would like to share some of our favourite creatives.
INSTAGRAM ARTISTS WE LOVE
Painting @ktsmail