Françoise Gilot studied English Literature at Cambridge University, and then, encouraged by her father, studied international law, though she secretly also took art lessons at the same time.
In 1943, during her first exhibition in Paris, Gilot (then 21) met Pablo Picasso (who was 61) for the first time. In 1946, Gilot started a 10-year relationship with him and had two of his children, Claude and Paloma.
As a result of her relationship with Picasso, Gilot became both a witness and a participant in one of the last great periods of the modern art movement in Europe. Their circle included poets, philosophers, writers, and many of the legends of the art world, such as Braque, Chagall, Cocteau and Matisse.
In 1953, Gilot left Picasso and the home they shared in Vallauris and moved back to Paris.
"Lithographs are printed from stones and each stone is an echo of my artistic voice," said Gilot. "Many artists use their art as a personal catharsis. I have never done that. I am more intellectual. Each artistic process — oils, lithographs, monotypes — allows me a different freedom and suits a different mood."
While Gilot did her first lithograph in 1950 at the Mourlot Atelier, the same studio used by Picasso, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró and Jean Dubuffet, it was in the 1970s that she really began to experiment with the process.
"In the beginning, I turned to lithography because I wanted to show off my technical skills. Now I am more interested in color," said Gilot. "I also thought that lithographs would make my works more accessible to young collectors."
Gilot’s work can be found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, the Musée Picasso and other institutions.
Find original Françoise Gilot prints, watercolor paintings and other art on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Lions Gallery)
"Stone Echoes" A Catalogue Raisonne Book of Francoise Gilot's Original Prints
By Françoise Gilot
Located in San Diego, CA
"Stone Echoes" A catalogue raisonne book of Francoise Gilot's original prints signed by author, Mel Yoakum, circa 1995. The book is in good con...
Paper
Alberto Giacometti Guggenheim Museum Exhibition Catalogue, First Printing, 2018
Located in San Diego, CA
Exceptional hardcover exhibition catalogue “Giacometti,” published by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, in conjunction with the museum's major 2018 retrospective devoted to...
Paper
Joan Miró – Galerie Maeght Original Color Lithograph, Paris, c. 1960s
By Joan Miró
Located in San Diego, CA
Original color lithograph by Joan Miró, published by the renowned Galerie Maeght in Paris. This striking composition exemplifies Miró’s mature visual language—expressive biomorphic forms, bold calligraphic lines, and a lively interplay of color and negative space that define his postwar work. #5174 Printed by Maeght Éditeur Imprimeur, as noted in the lower margin, this lithograph was produced using traditional stone lithography under the artist’s supervision. Miró’s Galerie Maeght...
Paper
Mid-Century "Hommage a Pablo Picasso" Lithograph / Poster
By Pablo Picasso
Located in San Diego, CA
Highly collectible mid-century "Hommage a Pablo Picasso" anniversary lithograph / poster, circa 1971. The print is in good vintage condition with some creases as shown in the picture...
Paper
Vintage "Miro's Posters" Art Book Catalogued by Gloria Picazo
By Joan Miró
Located in San Diego, CA
A vintage "Miro's Posters" art book catalogued by Gloria Picazo, circa 1980. The book is in good vintage condition and measures 9.75"W x 11.5"H. #3274 The book is 269 pages with 1...
Paper
Vintage "Paul Klee" Art Book by Metropolitan Museum of Art
By Alexander Calder
Located in San Diego, CA
A vintage "Paul Klee" art book by Metropolitan Museum of Art, circa 1987. This hard to find paperback book is in good vintage condition and measures 9.5"W x 12"H. Beautiful book lar...
Paper
Francoise Gilot -Painting-Malerei monograph signed inscribed to renowned actress
By Françoise Gilot
Located in New York, NY
Françoise Gilot Painting-Malerei, hand signed and warmly inscribed to renowned actress, 2003 Hardback monograph, signed in ink with lengthy inscription to American actress Elizabeth ...
Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset
Histoire de la Peinture Moderne de Picasso au Surrealisme, French, 1950
By Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Paul Klee
Located in New York, NY
Histoire de la Peinture Moderne- de Picasso au Surrealisme- du Cubisme a Paul Klee. Hardcover, text in French. Printed in Geneva, 1950. Stunning compilation of artworks from the per...
Paper
In a Yellow Key, Original Oil Painting by Important Female Artist, Picasso
By Françoise Gilot
Located in Grand Rapids, MI
Austin Christian Fine Art is proud to represent this piece by what we believe to be one of the most important women artists of the 20th century. In addition to establishing a relatio...
Canvas, Oil
Alain Ramié, Picasso: Catalogue of the Edited Ceramic Works, 1947-1971
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Alain Ramié, Picasso: Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971, French edition, published in 1988, by Galerie Madoura, hardbound. Measures: Height 3...
Paper
Picasso Coffee Table Book, First Edition, Paris France 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A collectable, first edition (English), 'Picasso', an art coffee table book, 1974, New York, New York and Paris, France. A great piece to add to a collection or to start one. The a...
Foil
Gio Ponti First Edition Book
By TASCHEN, Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
To study Gio Ponti’s prolific body of work is to appreciate the clear, unifying vision behind a complex creative universe. His creations expand intuitively with the Italian grandeur ...
Paper
