Paloma Picasso

Paloma Picasso is a famous jewelry designer and businesswoman from France.

She is well known for her work with Tiffany & Co. and her own perfumes. Her name, Paloma, means "Dove" in Spanish. This name comes from a symbol her father designed for a peace group. Her father was the artist Pablo Picasso. Her mother was the artist Françoise Gilot. Because of her family, she is even seen in many of her parents' paintings.

Paloma began her career by making jewelry from stones found at flea markets. She even worked as a costume designer in Paris. A famous fashion designer named Yves Saint Laurent noticed her talent. He asked her to make accessories for his clothing collections. In 1971, she launched her first costume jewelry line in his Paris boutiques. Later, she worked for the Greek company Zolotas. In 1980, she started her long work with the New York company Tiffany & Co. She also creates scents, like her "Paloma" perfume made for L'Oréal.

Her jewelry has a very special look. Many people call her style "aggressively chic."

She often uses gold to make shapes like X's, scribbles, and zigzags. She also adds large, colorful gemstones to her gold pieces. She loves the color red and often wears red lipstick. She calls her red lips her "signature" look. In 2010, she made a collection called Marrakesh to show her love for Morocco. In 2011, she made the Venezia collection to celebrate Venice.

Paloma's work is very important to the world of art. Many great museums keep her jewelry in their collections. The Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. has a huge kunzite necklace. This necklace weighs 396.30 carats. The Field Museum in Chicago has a moonstone bracelet. That bracelet has diamond "lightning bolts" on it and weighs 408.63 carats. She has received many honors for her hard work. In 1983, she was named to the International Best Dressed Hall of Fame.

Growing up with famous artists was not always easy for Paloma. She spent her childhood in Paris and the South of France. She loved drawing, but she felt the weight of her family history. After her father died in 1973, she helped manage his estate. She also helped start the Musée Picasso in Paris. Her life has included many big changes and legal battles. She has lived in places like Switzerland and Morocco. Today, she remains a very stylish and successful designer.