ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Marjane Satrapi, 'Persepolis' Creator, Dies at 56

other · 2026-06-04

Marjane Satrapi, the Iranian-French artist and author of the graphic novel 'Persepolis', died on June 4, 2026, at age 56. French President Emmanuel Macron's office announced her passing, but no cause or location was given. An unnamed close associate told AFP she 'died of sadness' following the death of her husband, Swedish producer Mattias Ripa, in April 2025. Born in Rasht, Iran in 1969, Satrapi experienced the Islamic Revolution at age 10. She studied in Vienna and Tehran, then moved to France in the mid-1990s, earning an art degree in Strasbourg. She became a French citizen in 2006 and lived in Paris. 'Persepolis', published in 2000, drew on her experiences of exile and war, and was adapted into an Oscar-nominated animated film in 2007. The book is banned in Iran and was pulled from Chicago Public Schools in 2013. Satrapi directed films including 'The Voices' (2014) and 'Radioactive' (2019), and her last film 'Dear Paris' came out in 2024. In 2024, she co-edited 'Woman, Life, Freedom', a graphic novel collection honoring Mahsa Jina Amini. Satrapi declined France's Legion d'Honneur in 2025, citing hypocrisy toward Iran. Illustrator Patricia Bolaños, a collaborator on 'Woman, Life, Freedom', praised Satrapi's blend of tenderness and political conviction.

Key facts

  • Marjane Satrapi died on June 4, 2026, at age 56.
  • French President Emmanuel Macron's office announced her death.
  • An unnamed close associate said she 'died of sadness' after her husband's death.
  • Her husband Mattias Ripa died in April 2025 at 53.
  • Satrapi was born in Rasht, Iran in 1969.
  • She created the graphic novel 'Persepolis' in 2000.
  • 'Persepolis' was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film in 2007.
  • She declined the Legion d'Honneur in 2025.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • French President Emmanuel Macron's office
  • AFP
  • Chicago Public Schools
  • Hyperallergic
  • BBC
  • Le Monde
  • Centre for Contemporary Art Tashkent
  • ArtAsiaPacific
  • School of Fine Arts at Tehran Islamic Azad University
  • School of Decorative Arts in Strasbourg
  • Académie des Beaux-Arts
  • Mattias and Marjane Ripa-Satrapi Cinema Foundation
  • Agence France-Presse
  • Cannes Film Festival
  • César Awards
  • The Guardian
  • El País
  • Islamic Azad University
  • Haute école des arts du Rhin
  • Lycée Français de Vienne
  • Cannes film festival
  • CNN
  • French government
  • École supérieure des arts décoratifs
  • L'Association
  • Mobilier national
  • Gobelins
  • Centre Pompidou
  • Musée national d'art moderne
  • Galerie Jérôme de Noirmont
  • Galerie Françoise Livinec
  • Beaux-Arts Magazine
  • Connaissance des Arts
  • Festival de Cannes
  • César
  • Oscars
  • Académie des beaux-arts
  • École supérieure des arts décoratifs de Strasbourg
  • Atelier des Vosges
  • Oscar
  • Fondation pour le cinéma Mattias et Marjane Ripa-Satrapi
  • Manufacture des Gobelins
  • Manufacture de Beauvais
  • Musée national du sport
  • Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image
  • Le Journal des Arts
  • L'Iconoclaste
  • Élysée-Palast
  • iranischer Kulturverein Pouya
  • Rizzoli Lizard
  • Artribune
  • Beaux Arts Magazine
  • Matias and Marjane Ripa-Satrapi foundation
  • Collection Ciboulette
  • New York Times
  • Élysée Palace
  • Pouya
  • Academy Awards (Oscar)
  • Süddeutsche Zeitung
  • The Believer
  • Academy Awards
  • Annie Awards
  • Venice Film Festival
  • Working Title
  • Deadline
  • Studio Canal UK
  • Haute School Arts Du Rhin
  • Iranian embassy in Paris
  • Agence France-Presse (AFP)
  • Princess of Asturias Award
  • Fondation pour le cinéma Mattias et Marjane Ripa-Satrapi – Académie des beaux-arts
  • RFI
  • Festival de la bande dessinée d'Angoulême
  • Jeux olympiques de Paris
  • Libération
  • La Repubblica
  • Le Parisien
  • France 24

Locations

  • Rasht, Iran
  • Iran
  • Vienna, Austria
  • Tehran, Iran
  • Strasbourg, France
  • Paris, France
  • France
  • Paris
  • Europe
  • Afghanistan
  • Germany
  • Tashkent
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vienna
  • Austria
  • Strasbourg
  • Tehran
  • Rasht
  • Vienne
  • Téhéran
  • Irak
  • Angoulême
  • Nice
  • Frankreich
  • Rascht
  • Teheran
  • Wien
  • Österreich
  • US
  • Hollywood
  • Greece
  • United States
  • Oviedo
  • Spain
  • Iraq

Sources

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