'I Paint Flowers So They Won't Die.' So said Frida.

Folk Flowers, Frida Kahlo

Born in Coyoacán, Mexico, young Frida's life was punctuated by prominent events: polio, the Mexican Revolution, and a horrific bus accident among them. Recovery from the bus trauma left her isolated and in extreme pain; painting became her distraction and solace. Self-portraits were her frequent focus, as she explained, "I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best."

Long celebrated as a folk icon in her homeland, it was not until the 1980s, well after her 1954 death, that Kahlo became widely recognized for her artistic skill. Now, her brightly-colored, often surreal artwork is in high demand. She has also been memorialized in movies and songs, on currency, and in countless books. Her birthplace and adult residence, The Blue House, is maintained today as a museum in her honor.
From the marvelous website, A Mighty Girl  http://www.amightygirl.com/

Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, 1940