Her family, and in particular her son Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, president of the Executive Council of the Museo Picasso Málaga, have expressed their sorrow at the loss of a woman whose life was defined by a love of art and the memory of Pablo Picasso. The Board of Trustees and the staff of the Museo Picasso Málaga wish to convey their sadness and gratitude for her fundamental work in the founding and consolidation of this museum.
Christine Ruiz-Picasso passed away at the age of 97 on Monday 6 April 2026 at 6 pm at her home in Provence, France. The widow of Paul Ruiz-Picasso, son of Pablo Picasso and Olga Khokhlova, she was the driving force behind the Museo Picasso Málaga, together with her son Bernard. The Museum opened in October 2003 and now receives 800,000 visitors annually. Christine was its Honorary President, a position she held jointly with the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia. In 2003 she received the Grand Cross of Alfonso X the Wise for her generous philanthropy. The Museum's auditorium was named the Christine Ruiz-Picasso Auditorium to commemorate her close connection to the Museum. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
Christine Ruiz-Picasso was born in France in 1928 and was associated with the art world from a young age. She became Pablo Picasso's daughter-in-law when she married Paul Ruiz-Picasso, the eldest son of the artist and the Russian ballerina Olga Khokhlova. Together they had a son, Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, who has also followed in his mother's footsteps in promoting Picasso's legacy. Her artistic sensibility and commitment to culture made her a respected figure in the museum and cultural spheres.
Pablo Picasso's dream of having a museum in the city of his birth came true in 2003 thanks to the generosity and tenacity of Christine Ruiz-Picasso: the collection of the Museo Picasso Málaga, comprising more than 230 works, came into being thanks to the generous donation of Christine and that of her son Bernard Ruiz-Picasso.
The Museo Picasso Málaga, the Regional Government of Andalusia and the City Council of Malaga are joined in profound sadness for the loss of a woman who dedicated her life to preserving and disseminating the legacy of Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
PROMOTER OF THE MUSEO PICASSO MÁLAGA The initial idea for a museum arose in 1953 from contacts between Pablo Picasso and Juan Temboury Álvarez, then the provincial delegate of Fine Arts in Malaga. The artist, who was born in the city, wanted his work to have a presence there but the project was abandoned shortly afterwards. Christine Ruiz-Picasso, the widow of the artist's eldest son, Paul Ruiz-Picasso, renewed contact with the city council in the context of the exhibitions
Picasso clásico and
Picasso, primera mirada, which took place at the Episcopal Palace of Malaga in 1992 and 1994 respectively. Such was the degree of enthusiasm shown by local people for the opportunity to contemplate the artist’s work for the first time in Andalusia that in 1996 Christine Ruiz-Picasso restarted her father-in-law's 1953 project.
In order to establish the museum, the Regional Government of Andalusia acquired the Buenavista Palace in 1997, and Christine and Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, the artist's daughter-in-law and grandson, donated 233 works to the Fundación Museo Picasso Málaga Legado Paul, Christine y Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, which was established specifically for the creation of the project and is the museum’s governing body at the present time. Fifty years later, the Museo Picasso Málaga thus finally became a reality, opening its doors on 27 October 2003.
Christine Ruiz-Picasso was made an Honorary Citizen of Andalusia in 2003, in recognition of her cultural endeavours and her contribution to the region's artistic heritage. In 2023, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Museo Picasso Málaga, she was honoured by having the museum's auditorium named the Christine Ruiz-Picasso Auditorium. Although she was unable to attend due to health reasons, her son Bernard declared that his mother was present “in spirit”.
Christine Ruiz-Picasso’s legacy as a patron, cultural promoter and defender of Picasso's legacy has significantly contributed to the cultural life of Malaga and of Spain, as well as to knowledge and understanding of modern art.
(Enviado por José Antonio Sierra)
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