CNN —Ben, the French artist best known for his irreverent approach to modern art, has died aged 88, taking his own life hours after the death of his wife, his family said in a statement Wednesday. Annie Vautier, Ben’s wife, died at 3 a.m. on Wednesday, having suffered a stroke on Monday, the Vautier family said in a statement posted to the Facebook page of the family gallery. “Unwilling and unable to live without her, Ben killed himself a few hours later at their home,” in the south of France, the artist’s family announced. Ben poses next to one of his art works during his exhibition 'Strip-tease integral' at the Museum of Modern Art in March 2010. His works have been exhibited around the world, from the Museum of Modern Art in New York to the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.

---

Persons: CNN — Ben, Annie Vautier, “, Ben, ”, Eva, Francois, Naive Arts Anatole Jakovsky, Clement Mahoudeau, Benjamin Vautier, Robert Pratta Organizations: CNN, Naive Arts, Getty, Museum of Modern Art, Palace, Art, New, Centre Pompidou Locations: France, Nice, AFP, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Egypt, New York, New South Wales, Sydney, Paris