DIEGO RIVERA Women with Flowers and Vegetables, 1995

Diego Rivera (1886–1957) was a leading Mexican painter whose monumental frescoes helped establish the Mexican mural movement. Between 1922 and 1953, he created murals in cities including Mexico City, Cuernavaca, San Francisco, Detroit, and New York. In 1931, the Museum of Modern Art in New York held a major retrospective of his work. Rivera was also known for his turbulent marriage to artist Frida Kahlo. Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, Rivera showed artistic talent early and studied at the Academy of San Carlos from age ten. In 1907, he traveled to Europe, first to Madrid and later Paris, where he joined the avant-garde circle of Montparnasse and befriended Amedeo Modigliani. Rivera explored Cubism between 1913 and 1917, before turning toward Post-Impressionism, influenced by Paul Cézanne. His bold use of color and form soon gained recognition and exhibition opportunities.