Galerie Templon: 50+ Years of Art Dealing Through Crises and Change

Galerie Templon, founded in 1966 by Daniel Templon, is one of the longest-running international art galleries. With spaces in Paris (Rue Beaubourg, near Centre Pompidou) and Brussels, it has weathered multiple crises. In an interview, Daniel Templon and his son Mathieu, current director, discuss the gallery's history, strategy, and the art market. Daniel Templon emphasizes his focus on discovering 'great artists' rather than building collections, and his willingness to revisit undervalued historical figures like Jules Olitski, George Segal, and Edward Kienholz. He cites his youthful lack of preconceptions as a key asset. The gallery survived the 1974 oil crisis (closing its Milan branch), the early-1990s Iraq war market crash (closing its Avenue Marceau space), and the Covid-19 pandemic (renovating the Rue Beaubourg space and developing digital viewing rooms). Mathieu Templon contrasts the American and European art markets: American collectors are bolder and buy larger works more frequently, while Europeans are more cautious. He notes that today's dealers must navigate a more competitive, globalized market with powerful players, requiring constant innovation in finding artists, developing spaces, and participating in international fairs. The gallery's current exhibition features Edward and Nancy Kienholz, whose work critiques American society's dysfunctions—exploitation of women, war, religion, and consumerism—themes Mathieu Templon finds more relevant than ever.