Françoise Guillotte, a talented French artist admired by Picasso and Jonas Sarc, had a fondness for her apartment, which truly reflected her artistic spirit.
The duplex, located in a historic artist district on West 67th Avenue, has recently been listed for $4.3 million. It’s a distinctive place that carries a legacy.
Guillotte, known globally for her watercolors, ceramics, and the popular memoir “Life with Picasso,” utilized cooperative homes like this one as live-in studios for many years. It’s fascinating how artists find inspiration in their surroundings.
Her work included modern French pieces, notably “Forcing Adam to Eve to Eat an Apple” and the mythic “Labyrinth Series.” Beyond her artistic contributions, she was recognized for her remarkable romantic life.
Guillotte first crossed paths with Picasso during a tumultuous time when he was just 21 and living in occupied France. At that point, he was 61. Their relationship lasted near ten years, during which they had two children together. She recounted these experiences in her celebrated 1964 book “Life with Picasso,” which was loosely adapted into the 1996 film Surviving Picasso, featuring Anthony Hopkins.
Later, she married Jonas Sark, a pioneer in polio vaccines, and they lived in New York City until his passing in 2023 at the age of 101.
This marks the first time that Guillot’s three-bedroom residence on West 67th Avenue has been on the market. The home showcases impressive 17-foot barrel ceilings, wooden fireplaces, large north-facing windows, and adaptable 3-4 bedroom layouts.
The living space is truly expansive and filled with natural light. I imagine it must have a lovely ambiance for both living and creating.
Northern exposure was something Guillotte cherished in the apartment, allowing light to flood in. Interestingly, this unit is also a few stories down from the former duplex of Peter Yarrow, of the group Peter, Paul and Mary, who recently signed a contract.
There are three units being sold in the building right now. One of them, a two-bedroom listed at $2.5 million, was used by Guillot as a guest space, according to Leslie Hirsch of Christie’s International.
Another one, formerly owned by Yarrow, last listed for $4.44 million, attracted quite a bidding war, though the final selling price hasn’t been disclosed yet.
This unusual influx of listings from 27 W. 67th St. is intriguing. Hirsch noted that families tend to sell their homes more quickly within this building, but having three units available at once is quite rare.
“Properties in this building aren’t sold often,” she remarked. “You might see it occur just once or twice a year at most.”
This building is part of a special historical district in New York City, known for its artistic heritage. The brick and limestone structure nestled between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue has a reputation for attracting artists. Notable residents included the innovative Marcel Duchamp and painter Norman Rockwell.
The building itself was established by a collective of ten artists who pooled resources to create a 14-unit studio cooperative.
Its layout continues to draw generations of artists, offering an open studio feel with large north-facing windows ideal for creative work.
Hirsch mentioned that what Guillotte appreciated about the apartment were its unique features. “You can stand on the balcony and view the artworks from various angles,” she said, recalling what Guillotte’s daughter shared. “She adored drawing here.”
