Françoise Gilot’s story is a captivating journey into the world of art, where love, art, and independence intertwine under the shadow of Pablo Picasso. Gilot was a bold and talented artist whose career and life were strongly connected to the world-renowned Picasso. However, despite Gilot’s significance in Picasso’s life, her artistic talent remained in Picasso’s name’s shadow for a long time.

The tale of Picasso and Gilot began conventionally but soon turned complex and turbulent. Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine in 1921, Gilot had decided at a young age to become a painter. Her artistic path began early, and she opened her first exhibition in Paris in 1943, the same year she met Picasso at a café. At that time, Gilot was only 21, and Picasso was 61 years old. Their relationship was passionate and stormy, and Gilot became known as Picasso’s muse and lover.

In her 1964 memoir, “Life with Picasso,” Gilot revealed the dark sides of her relationship with Picasso. She described the mental and physical violence she experienced at Picasso’s hands. Although the relationship ended in 1953 when Gilot left Picasso, her artistic career suffered due to Picasso’s influence. Picasso’s initiated “war” against Gilot in artistic and intellectual circles caused Gilot to harbor deep resentment towards France.

However, Gilot’s story did not end there. She moved to the United States in the 1970s and continued her artistic work. Her independence and talent bore fruit, and she gained recognition through her efforts. Her paintings were sold at prestigious auctions, and her art was appreciated worldwide.

More than Muse

Now, in 2024, the Picasso Museum in Paris has decided to give Gilot the recognition she deserves. The museum has dedicated gallery space for a permanent exhibition of Gilot’s works. This exhibition covers Gilot’s career, from early works to late masterpieces. The gallery space serves as evidence that Gilot was much more than just Picasso’s partner – she was a talented artist whose merits are now finally appreciated in the right light.

Françoise Gilot’s story is a testament to courage, resilience, and independence. It is the story of a woman who dared to step out of Picasso’s shadow and build her significant art career. The Picasso Museum’s decision to dedicate gallery space to Gilot’s works is a step towards fair recognition for an artist who deserves her place alongside Picasso.

About the memoir “Life with Picasso”

In 1964, Françoise Gilot published a book in which she opened up about her decade-long relationship with the legendary artist Pablo Picasso. Now, 55 years later, this memoir is being reprinted, offering a unique perspective on the artist’s life and his relationship with Gilot.

In the book “Life with Picasso,” Gilot recounts her encounter with Picasso in Paris in 1943 and how she became the artist’s protege, partner, and eventually the mother of their two children. The focus of the work is more on Picasso than on Gilot’s artistic development, but it still provides a fascinating glimpse into the artist’s life and personality.

Although the book was successful on the bestseller lists, it also received critical feedback from Picasso’s inner circle. Picasso’s future biographer John Richardson published a review criticizing Gilot’s openness about Picasso’s personal life.

Today, decades later, the book appears surprisingly relevant. It offers an honest portrayal of Picasso’s personality, which was simultaneously brilliant yet self-centered and cruel to those closest to him. Gilot’s voice in the book challenges Picasso’s myth and provides a profound insight into the artist’s life.

Gilot’s book and her art together offer a captivating overview of the artist’s life and work. While Gilot does not harbor bitterness about her past with Picasso, she continues to paint and create in the present, focusing on what is important to her: expressing herself through art.

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