Claude Ruiz Picasso, the eldest son of the renowned Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, passed away in Switzerland on Thursday, according to statements from his attorneys as relayed to EFE. This confirmation marks the end of a long life that intersected with one of the most influential art lineages of the 20th century.
Born in Boulogne-Billancourt in 1947, Claude Ruiz Picasso grew up under the shadow and light of a father whose work reshaped modern art. His mother was Françoise Gilot, a French painter and writer, making Claude the first child from Picasso’s union with Gilot. The early years of Claude’s upbringing were marked by exposure to a creative environment and a sphere that blended artistry with entrepreneurial activity. Throughout his life, Claude pursued multiple paths as a photographer, a businessman, and a filmmaker, shaping a unique identity within the Picasso dynasty while maintaining independent interests and projects that reflected his own perspectives on culture and media.
The news of his death arrived via his legal representative in France, Jean-Jacques Neuer, who conveyed the information to EFE but did not offer additional comment at the moment. The family and representatives remain careful in sharing details, and the broader circumstances surrounding the passing have yet to be disclosed publicly. Claude Ruiz Picasso had long served as a steward of the family’s artistic footprint, helping to manage the Picasso legacy through various phases and transitions.
His role extended beyond personal pursuits. For decades, he contributed to the management and curatorial conversations surrounding Pablo Picasso’s estate, ensuring that the corpus of works, rights, and historical narratives were navigated with care. It was through his efforts that the legacy was organized and preserved for future generations, while younger relatives and institutions continued to engage with Picasso’s vast body of work. In July of the previous year, the control of the Picasso legacy shifted to his younger sister, Paloma Picasso, marking another milestone in the ongoing stewardship of one of the world’s most studied artistic legacies.
In tracing Claude Ruiz Picasso’s family history, it is noted that Pablo Picasso fathered two other children who are no longer living. Paulo Picasso (1921-1975) was born from Picasso’s relationship with Olga Jojlova, and Maya Widmaier-Picasso (1935-2022) came from his union with Marie-Thérèse Walter. These familial connections illustrate the broad and sometimes complex tapestry of Picasso’s offspring, many of whom have carried forward different aspects of the artist’s influence in contemporary culture, business, and philanthropy. The story of Claude Ruiz Picasso, like that of the Picasso lineage itself, reflects a blend of artistic stewardship and personal dedication to preserving a cultural heritage that continues to resonate in museums, galleries, and scholarly discussions around modern art.