The Biographers

Office Hours Ep. 10: Now With Video!

Coming in hot with another laid-back episode of Office Hours, but this time we have video! We are indeed humans! In this episode, we go over all the corrections and questions from our Frida Kahlo series in addition to chatting about our upcoming series on Wu Zhao.

Frida Kahlo Part 6: Una Vida Vivida

In our final episode on Frida Kahlo, we discuss her last decade of life. Coming on the heels of Trotsky's death, Frida and Diego decide to remarry after realizing what they meant to one another, if only for a time. Frida's painting skills peaked in the 1940s, reaching a new level of detail evident in “Rosita Morillo” and “Moses”, which led to national recognition as one of Mexico's finest painters. Her newfound esteem even landed her a teaching position at La Esmeralda, where Frida and the “Fridos” explored the world with an artist's eye. Her time as a teacher was cut short, however, when health issues arose. As her friends sat beside her in the hospital bed once again, they knew she didn't have long to live. In a final effort to celebrate Frida’s alegría, artists, poets, peasants, and rebels banded together for an exhibition that nearly broke down the doors of La Galería Contemporánea. Needless to say, when the party ended, she would spend her last years fighting death with a ferocity only Frida could muster. Tune in to hear the finale of Frida Kahlo! (Ep. 076)

Frida Kahlo Part 5: La Surrealista Asesina

In part 5 of our series covering the dramatic and tragic life of Frida Kahlo, we go over the most formative years for her career as a painter. Following Diego's brutal betrayal of trust, Frida would make more paintings in two years than in the entirety of her marriage to him, creating masterpieces like The Two Fridas, and What the Water Gave Me. After an art show in Manhattan that had Frida spreading her wings outside of her husband's shadow, surrealist icons like Andre Breton would invite her to Paris for an exhibition, which turned out to be more than she bargained for. Back in Mexico, a petulant Diego would shove a political wedge between himself and the 4th International, setting off a chain of events that would leave a hand broken, a skull crushed, a house raided, and Frida Kahlo behind bars. Tune in to part four to hear all the drama! (Ep. 075)

Frida Kahlo Part 4: Unos Cuantos Piquetitos

In part four of our series on Frida Kahlo, the seminal artist's grand tour of the United States comes to an end. Devastation would follow devastation in Frida’s mid-twenties: a miscarriage in Detroit, followed by the death of her mother in Coyoacán. Diego, on the other hand, was at the height of his fame, and was receiving commissions from some of America's most elite clientele. Unfortunately for Diego, his work would be a little too "Red" for the taste's of client's, and his work would be destroyed before it was finished. After moving back to Mexico, Diego would find some redemption, but would soon commit a betrayal so painful that Frida considered it equal to her most devastating physical injuries. Bruised but not broken, Frida would go on to create a life somewhat free of Diego’s influence just as the tides would usher in the arrival of one of the biggest names in the history of Communism. Tune in for part four to learn more! (Ep. 074)

Frida Kahlo Part 3: Gringolandia

In part three of our series on Frida Kahlo, we explore Frida’s early years of marriage to the world-famous painter Diego Rivera, along with her time spent touring the United States. In Cuernavaca, Diego finds himself painting the Mexican Revolution for American oil investors, while Frida begins to paint from within. As fascism spreads across Mexico like a disease, the two depart for America — or, as Frida called it, “Gringolandia.” There, Diego relishes his newfound fame, while Frida is less than pleased. In New York, Frida confides in her new American friends, feeling disillusioned as she watches Diego's wealthy new clients trivialize their message. Following Diego's success, the two are whisked to the Motor City, where Frida's expressive, rebellious side begins to flourish more and more, laughing in the faces of the elite. Unfortunately, the fun is short-lived, as tragedy lurks just around the corner. Tune in to part three of Frida Kahlo to learn more! (Ep. 073)