Collection Y. Lambert, Avignon

The Collection Lambert in Avignon is a contemporary art museum founded by renowned art dealer and collector Yvon Lambert. Situated in the heart of Avignon, this museum occupies two exquisite 18th-century mansions—the Hôtel de Caumont and Hôtel de Montfaucon—and houses a remarkable array of works from the latter half of the 20th century and early 21st century. Open to the public since 2000, the museum showcases a collection Lambert has been curating since the 1960s, featuring pieces from significant contemporary artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Robert Ryman, Brice Marden, Miquel Barceló, Carl André, Gordon Matta-Clark, Anselm Kiefer, Christian Boltanski, Andres Serrano, Douglas Gordon, Cy Twombly, and Nan Goldin, among others.

The Hôtel de Caumont, a historical building designed by Jean-Baptiste Franque and completed by his son François after 1751, adds a layer of architectural splendor to the collection. Despite past transformations due to its various uses—first as a teacher training college and later as a national gendarmerie—the Hôtel de Caumont remains a masterpiece of the Franque family's architectural legacy.

In 2009, Yvon Lambert and Avignon’s municipality embarked on an ambitious expansion project to house additional works, including a plan to incorporate the Hôtel de Montfaucon. The project was completed in 2015 under the guidance of Berger & Berger architects and Christiane Schmuckle-Mollard. The museum’s enlargement was crucial to accommodate Lambert’s donation of 450 works to the French State, thereby solidifying the Collection Lambert’s status as a major contemporary art center in France. With over 1,200 works today, the collection stands as a testament to Lambert’s deep connections with the artists and his enduring commitment to contemporary art.