NEW YORK, NY.- Galerie Lelong mourns the passing of one of its founding partners, Daniel Lelong, who died in Paris on June 4, 2025.

Daniel Lelong was born in Nancy, France, November 9, 1933. After a career at the Conseil d’Etat in Paris, he was invited by Aimé Maeght to join the Galerie Maeght in 1961, first assisting with the legal formation of the Fondation Maeght at Saint-Paul-de-Vence, which opened in 1964. Over time he began his long collaborations with artists, notably Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró, Eduardo Chillida, Antoni Tàpies, Francis Bacon, and Edward and Nancy Kienholz. This resulted in decades of exhibitions, museum shows and significant placement of artworks to many of the 20th century’s most notable collections, including Seymour Knox (Albright Knox Gallery, now Buffalo AKG Art Museum), Joseph Hirshhorn (the Hirshhorn Museum), and Museo Sofia Imber (Caracas).

After Aimé Maeght’s death in 1981, together with Jacques Dupin and Jean Frémon, Daniel Lelong was a co-founder of Galerie Maeght-Lelong in Paris. Louise Bourgeois’s first exhibition in Europe was held at the gallery in 1985. In 1987, the gallery became Galerie Lelong. The roster of exhibitions includes many names now celebrated as key figures, including Jannis Kounellis, Pierre Alechinsky, Gunther Förg, Jaume Plensa, and Kiki Smith. Among the galleries with early interest in international expansion, a location was established in Zurich in the ’70s and in New York in 1985. Galerie Lelong is one of the few global galleries to have exhibited each year at Art Basel since the early ’70s. Between 1967 and 1977, Daniel Lelong was instrumental in the placement of multiple outdoor sculptures by Alexander Calder internationally. He later served on the board of the Calder Foundation and wrote a book of memoirs entitled Avec Calder.

He was an avid spectator of soccer and tennis and combined his love of sports and art by commissioning contemporary artists to produce a poster for the Roland Garros Open annually. Artists from Valerio Adami to Jane Hammond to Sean Scully produced posters.

Daniel Lelong contributed greatly to cultural life of France and Europe. In 2010 he was decorated by the French government as a Commander in the Order of Arts and Letters and he served as the President of FIAC for eight years. The Spanish government decorated him for his service in the recognition of Spanish artists. Despite his numerous professional accomplishments, Mr. Lelong is most known for his expansive and generous personality. Unfailingly positive, he inspired all with his love and admiration for artists and belief in the importance of forging long and deep relationships.

Mr. Lelong was predeceased by his wife, Suzy in 2000; he is survived by his daughter, Ariane Lelong-Mainaud; his son, Stéphane Lelong; and two grandchildren.

He will be greatly missed, but the gallery is dedicated to continuing his legacy of leadership and growth, and belief in the vitality of art.