On September 17, 1925, a bus collided with a trolley car in Mexico City. Among the injured passengers was 18-year-old Frida Kahlo. The accident left her bedridden for months. With a mirror suspended above her bed, Frida began to paint what she could see: herself.

Looking inward became a defining theme of Frida’s work. Through her celebrated self-portraits, she explored identity, pain, and passion using bold, vibrant colors to express her inner world. Her work honored Mexican and indigenous cultures while offering an unflinching examination of physical pain, emotional struggle, and the women’s experience.

Volume 143 is our tribute to Frida Kahlo. Each pencil features soft graphite and a floral design inspired by Frida’s iconic imagery. The model number 143 is a nod to the 143 paintings commonly attributed to her over the course of her life.