The flower carrier by Diego Rivera

Mexico is the home of many famous painters who have influenced the world with their magnificent strokes. Mexican painters recognized all over the world for their artwork include Diego Rivera and his wife, Frida Kahlo, Jose Clemente Orozco and Rufino Tamayo, among others.

When Spain invaded Mexico, Mexican artists began painting in Catholic churches. Some artists also painted portraits of various politicians. However, it was only after the Mexican Revolution in 1910 that the art of Mexican painting blossomed.

Diego Rivera is a popular Mexican muralist, even painting various murals at Mexico’s National Palace. He had a strong interest in politics, both in Mexico and abroad; a number of the murals he painted dealt with Mexican politics. He also painted a mural in Rockefeller Center, entitled Man at the Crossroads, which was removed after it was discovered that he painted a picture of Lenin in the mural.

Frida Kahlo, the wife of Diego Rivera, was a painter herself. She had a troubled life, undergoing multiple operations and suffering through an unstable marriage. She enjoyed painting self-portraits as a way to express her physical and emotional pain; in fact, she painted over 50 self-portraits during her lifetime. Major influences in her paintings include the indigenous culture of Mexico and both the ancient and contemporary religions in the country.

Another popular painter in Mexico is Rufino Tamayo. Together with Lea Remba, Tamayo created a new form of art known as “mixografia.” Several of his murals can be seen at an opera house in Mexico City. He also built a museum with his wife, named the Tamayo Contemporary Art Museum.

You can view the outstanding works of Mexican painters at various museums all over Mexico. Diego Rivera’s paintings can also be viewed at Palacio Nacional and the Palace of Fine Arts. There are also some museums that are entirely dedicated to specific artists, such as Frida Kahlo’s museum in Coyoacan and David Alfaro Siqueiros’ hall in Polanco.