Diego Rivera was born in Guanajuato, Mexico. At the age of ten, he received a government scholarship to study art at the Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City. In 1907, he won another scholarship that enabled him to travel to Europe and study there. While in Paris, he met and became friends with several noted modern painters, including Pablo Picasso. During this time, Rivera used vivid colors in bold, simple designs, reflecting the influence of contemporary masters Paul Cézanne and Henri Rousseau.

In 1910, Rivera returned to Mexico City, where he held a well-received exhibition of his paintings. The artist did not stay long in his homeland, however. A revolution broke out, and he decided to go back to Paris. When he did eventually return to Mexico in 1921, a new government was in place. Rivera began to explore social and political themes in his work. He painted large murals depicting Mexico's history, culture, and industry. Rivera held strong political beliefs, which he sometimes incorporated into his art and which made him a somewhat controversial figure.

In 1929, Rivera married Frida Kahlo, a talented Mexican painter. During the early 1930s, the couple lived in the United States. There, Rivera painted murals for the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco and the Detroit Institute of Arts. By painting huge murals on the sides of public buildings, Rivera promoted his belief that art is intended for all people, not just those who visit museums.