The former contemporary art dealer Yvon Lambert, who closed his gallery in Paris in December after trading for 48 years, is in talks to show part of his Modern art collection in the southern French town of Vence. Lambert is in discussions with the town’s mayor, Loïc Dombreval, about housing some of his holdings at the Château de Villeneuve, a 17th-century building which hosts Modern and contemporary art exhibitions. But the move may surprise city authorities in Avignon; since 2000, works from the Lambert collection have been shown in the city as part of a joint project.

Dombreval tells The Art Newspaper: “I can confirm that Lambert and Eric Mezil, the director of the Lambert collection, have proposed a program [of exhibitions] for the Château de Villeneuve which would begin in March. But this does not in any way mean that the Lambert collection will relocate from Avignon.