Françoise Gilot was born on November 26, 1921 in Neuilly-sur-seine, France. She was married to Jonas Salk and Luc Simon. She died on June 6, 2023 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
In August 2018, Gilot released three sketchbooks, these documented the journeys she made in Venice, India, and Senegal.
During their 10 years together, Gilot was often harassed on the streets of Paris by Picasso's legal wife, Olga Khokhlova, a Russian former ballet dancer, and Picasso himself physically abused her as well.
From 1943 to 1953, Gilot was the lover and artistic muse of Pablo Picasso, with whom she had two children, Claude and Paloma.
She was awarded a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1990.