Chinese-French abstract painter Zao Wou-Ki, a significant figure in 20th-century Chinese art, died Tuesday at his home in Switzerland aged 93, a lawyer for his wife told AFP.

A lawyer for Zao's son, who was in a legal battle with his father's wife to obtain power-of-attorney over the artist, confirmed the death and said Zao, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, had been hospitalised twice since the end of March.