Illustrator Reinterprets the Works of Frida Kahlo

Marianna Madriz illustrations from the Little Guides to Great Lives book are dedicated to the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, are inspiring as they are informative.

The Venezuela-born, London-based illustrator based her work on a trip she took to Mexico. “Years ago I traveled to Mexico and I was lucky enough to visit Frida Kahlo’s Blue House, where I took at least 200 photos of her room, her clothes, her collection of miniature skeletons and puppets,” she recalled in an interview with the Laurence King blog. “All of these elements (and other photos I took in and around the city) later found their way into informing the illustrations for this book.”

Inspired by magical realist novels, coming of age films, DIY comics, and personable characters (real or fictional), Madriz’s illustrations have a naive quality to them that we find quite charming.

Apart from her illustrated book, she’s also worked with clients like Anorak Magazine, SCOOP, and the Arts University Bournemouth. You can see some of her work on her Instagram page, where she’s gathered a small but dedicated following.