Yvon Lambert, the legendary French art dealer and collector, reflects on his lifelong relationship with art and literature in an interview for TLmag41: The Art of Collecting. He recounts buying his first painting at age 14, opening his Paris gallery in the 1960s, and later donating a major portion of his collection to the French State, now housed at the Collection Lambert in Avignon. After closing his gallery in 2014, he shifted focus to an artist's bookshop, now run by his daughter Eve Lambert. The conversation, led by Sibylle Grandchamp, explores Lambert's early influences, his father's passion for literature, and the family's shared love for art books.
This interview matters because it offers rare insight into the philosophy of one of the most influential figures in contemporary art dealing, whose career spanned over five decades. Lambert's transition from gallerist to bookshop owner highlights a quieter, more intimate practice of collecting and preserving artist's books, while his donation to the state underscores a commitment to public access. The piece also illuminates the intergenerational transmission of taste and knowledge, as Eve Lambert continues her father's legacy, making it relevant for understanding how art collections and passions evolve across time and family.