Incredible, Eccentric, Accidental: The Life of Art Collector Herbert Lust

Looking back on nearly a century-long life, Herbert Lust can’t help but feel lucky. He has one of the finest collections of works by artists including Alberto Giacometti, Robert Indiana and Hans Bellmer, among others. But he didn’t just collect these influential artists - he learned from them, challenged them and perhaps most importantly, he had the chance to befriend them. In this episode of A Life Less Ordinary, Lust recounts a life of eccentric curiosity, from his youth in rural Indiana to his career as an investment banker and eventually to his status as one of the leading collectors of art in New York. The close relationships he formed with artists would transform the way Lust perceived and collected art, and today offer us a rare, intimate view into the minds of 20th century icons.
SUBSCRIBE: kzbin.info?sub...
FOR MORE NEWS FROM SOTHEBY’S
Instagram: / sothebys
Facebook: / sothebys
Twitter: / sothebys

[@marquamfurniture]

8 1/2 minutes that enriched my life.

[@Hank-le4lg]

Refreshing to see someone that’s not narcissistic and snooty.

[@sdalby9127]

@MATH POWERLAND exactly...

[@jayclause4674]

He is mike..from breaking bad

[@ew3861]

Fantastic. It’s great to hear someone in his position to talk about luck playing a integral role in his accomplishments. He’s damn right. Cheers. Eric Wolske

[@usedtobecool6874]

i don't think luck had much to do with it.........more that he came from two good and wealthy parents.....but still a great story

[@leona5543]

@@usedtobecool6874 being born to those parents was the first lucky thing

[@MTMF.london]

@@usedtobecool6874 He did not come from wealthy parents. He said his father's side of the family are Jewish aristocrats and his mother is working class. His father's family probably fled Europe (from the Nazis) and left all their wealth. He grew up in small town America, certainly not poor but hardly wealthy.

[@DanielDashnaw]

His luck started from conception. A humble and likeable member of the lucky sperm club.

[@chironapolonio]

Eye-popping artworks and to think that they were acquired by someone who, at the time, was not even a conscentious art collector. Unbelievable.

[@michaelwilcox5168]

He had people around him holding up the guardrails, as well as family money.

[@patrickbell4314]

Wow! I look forward to old age, surrounded by the art that I love and cursing like a sailor. :-)

[@JM-jt2zd]

Interesting person. He knows he lived...

[@yamama3510]

4:30 that’s a cool $100million sculpture

[@SCRNSH0T]

Now that's something to have in the middle of the room

[@tedharris7387]

Now that guy told the truth ... and lived life each day

[@kalayne6713]

What an interesting man, honest, humble and not afraid to like cats!

[@kriswillard6011]

Gosh I just ADORED this interview! What an unpretentious, wise, insightful interview.

[@alnor1643]

Right?!!!! He was just talking normal and no airs about him and very honest. Loved this interview

[@harperwelch5147]

This guy is a treasure! He blows all pretense about Art and Collectors right out the window. It's an authentic journey about falling in love with the unconscious and the visual / experiential notion of art.

[@OMGmyFACE]

You can tell from the tone of voice in the staff behind the camera that they were there to talk about _arte_ and didn't expect to be around an actual human being with opinions. Love this guy.

[@alnor1643]

He took the “elitism “ out of the equation and brought it down to humanity 🤌🏻💯♥️

[@goodboybuddy1]

Love this guy.

[@michaelbieber4502]

Ok soooooo this is the greatest video I've seen on the Internet, it has left me wanting more. VERY INTERESTING.

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Great story about a great art collector.

[@midoann]

Thank you distinguish Sotheby's for these astonish high quality videos. For the first time I liked all, but all the art pieces from Mr. Lust. I mean, others collections are jaw dropping but I'm always like " Hmm,, this is too much, or doesn't strike me..." It's a pity only money can make the miracle happen: to own one of these arts. Anyway, I still feel awesome just looking at Sotheby's videos, thank you for making arts accessible to the world.

[@webwhisper2701]

Sensational artwork. Terrific insight into some of the life. Great guy- smart, intuitive. Thanks for sharing.

[@tenniswerewolf8095]

I always come back to this interview. Thank You 🙏🏾

[@missinglink9973]

I love this video. Eccentric and humble and a great collection!!

[@DiamondCutter423]

That was a breath of fresh air. Great post.

[@modemarose4497]

Today is a SPECTACULAR DaY!!! That’s my 2nd Artistic ‘Uh HA’ moment & it’s barely midday.. 🦾👽🤙

[@WolfgangPwnz]

This did not disappoint at all. Loved it.

[@TheMetalFreshTiger]

Greeeat episode!!

[@ELECTECHNUT]

1st of all, thank you for posting! I love the underlying and unifying elements of this collection, as well as the whimsical juxtaposition provided by a couple of pieces. The narration brought it all to life. 👍

[@bigboxbobby2]

I love your collection man, so original. Fantastic.

[@conardartistichands5291]

Check out my art work kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6KmYqFpiNikedU

[@MTMF.london]

Wow, what a collection. Really interesting life too.

[@LastTrainToClarkson]

Herbert, great collection. The Robert Indiana story was the best tale, sadly!

[@leonardoluc6362]

What a nice intelligent man without an ego at first, thanks for the interview refreshing.

[@RussFye]

Awesome Man!

[@robinleevel6591]

what an accidentally cool human

[@billykobilca6321]

That wAz terrific! !! Thanks

[@lordspucke8938]

awesome guy.smart,good entertainer,very good art taste and above this his great humor! "my cats play with it" haha

[@howdy268]

Amazing

[@shaktikantadas5663]

What a brilliant mind!!! I stopped breathing for the entire video......That's last word, "Come on!" - takes you to the Moon at least ❤️‍🔥

[@allenbell3734]

Wonderful

[@tiffanycurtis4794]

He is just amazing I can listen to him all day❤

[@buddhahoo1]

LOVE him. Curious and beautiful spirit.

[@dear_darling]

incredible story!

[@alnor1643]

I would love to be his friend and just hear all his stories, what a fascinating and funny guy.

[@MarianaTitus1919]

Love this! love to know him!!

[@moonshinefilms]

So good, I could check in with this man wkly

[@glebronjames9515]

I'd love go see his book collection if anything haha, looks incredible

[@Nic-tg2ei]

What a lovely man.

[@sashawhitehead7378]

Excellent human being

[@ojworld932]

Grate collection ❤

[@96powerpower]

those bellmer photos are incredible

[@weeverob]

I could listen to him for hours

[@menaseven9093]

Nice story of the life of Herbert Lust.

[@alnor1643]

Love this guy ❤

[@KevinRusso]

I love this guy.

[@iliapetrovic3582]

Fantastic art. I could listen to this guy all day. Now I’m off for a ham & cheese sandwich!

[@charlestaylor6279]

Great video Herbert explained that he bought art cos he liked what he bought. "There's not enough good galleries and too many good artists" How right he is. I contacted one in New York and they said, "Oh we love your work bring it right over" I replied, "I live here in Thailand" "They said never mind" "We'd be very happy to display your art here in our gallery" BUT, then they added "We just need $3,900 to display it" So then I asked "Well how much do you think you can sell one of my pictures for ?" They then replied "Oh, we don't guarantee to sell your work, only to display it in our gallery" Undaunted I asked "Well maybe I can send you one or two paintings. In your opinion which are the best two paintings to send to you ?" They replied "Oh, we have to charge you $500 to appraise your work" So then I said "I thought you said you "We love your work" They said "Oh, we haven't seen your work and in any case, I'm just in the sales and internet department. It's the boss who actually looks at any art" So as you can imagine I never did send them anything. I even said "Well if you do sell anything I'll give you 40% of the gross. But guess what ! They replied "Oh, we don't work like that" That was a about two years ago, but that particular art gallery keeps sending me invitations and they put KZbin videos up of their "shows" and I look at the four or five people who are in the video who must have paid $3,900 each to display their own work So, yes, there are a few "strange" galleries out there. So beware. But Herbert is right, there are too many good artists. Here in Thailand I have a few friends who're are superb. They work every day on anything and everything. They produce portraits from photos, and copies of famous artists. They also produce their own totally original compositions. Yes, if you go to the wrong places they get the tone and value, even the chroma wrong. No, they're best avoided. I cringe when I look at some of their work. But the good one's that I know do superb work. One in particular uses real gold leaf on his classic reproductions, and also on his own totally original abstract works. Last month I bought a four foot square high relief painting with silver and gold leaf and custom made ceramic attachments for an extremely good price. It was the Thai version of the zodiac. Each month had it's own custom made ceramic figure or animal attached to the canvas. At the very centre there was a ceramic head wearing a ceremonial "chad daa" There was a huge amount of fine detail. Yet that friend of mine is not wealthy, he makes a living and that's about it. I myself produce totally original work and compositions I've just finished a huge piece of Donald Trump and Winston Churchill both standing with a Tommy gun each. Underneath I've printed "WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER" I sold a three foot full size copy printed on poster quality paper the week it was finished. I've nearly finished a smaller piece called "GOTCHA !" It has Trump, Barr, Durham and a cop about to arrest Pelosi, Nadler and Goo Goo eyes. They have an rather desperate expression on each of their faces and you should see Schiff's eyes popping out. Wow ! OK some people hate Trump but as we all know many love him. Here in Thailand it's the same amongst the expats. The Yanks, Brits, Ausies and Europeans are all also divided. Some hate him others don't Anyway, I'd better close now. My website is www.100Temptations.com and you'll see much of my work Happy Christmas ! Kind regards to you all and Mr Lust. It was a great video. Fascinating

[@melcryarfineart]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ericswain4177]

Herbert Lust What a great guy ! Very personable and real.

[@kingafendikingafendi8897]

His collection is superb 🧐

[@KM-kl8xu]

This guy is too cool!🍻

[@laerciorocha5617]

Que coleção fantástica!

[@robsanders5808]

What an interesting, well spoken, yet down to earth man....quite refreshing from the usual la de da artsy fartsy rhetoric of the art world.

[@GulfIslandRock]

love ... my art goes in all directions ... what I collect and what I create

[@volterior.motifs]

🇺🇲 Herbert Lust reminds me of Peggy Guggenheim. She adored artists, as well. When an artist feels seen, there's an intimacy in that level of appreciation. Indeed, Art (as a gift) is a remnant of affection.

[@LisaIsabelle]

I love how at first he thought so many things were the "ugliest fucking shit" and "fucking bullshit" he's ever seen, and yet he has one of the most interesting collection I've ever seen!

[@LuisMercadoorg]

Saw a Sol LeWitt sculpture there. What a magnificent collection.

[@vivienneomen]

WOW! LOVE!

[@prakashdayanandan3176]

how can you not love a guy who has $200m worth of art around his house and initially thought art was bullshit and decoration and the giacommetti was the fucking ugliest thing he ever saw and not sell anything because he just fell in love with art

[@adamdoyle2804]

Wow

[@blessOTMA]

What fun!

[@andresglucas]

TE SALUDO .GRACIAS

[@kimstahl6833]

How I would love to visit that house and chat with Herbert about every piece of art in it.

[@injudicious109]

When I was a student I rented a flat at Hans Bellmer tenement house where he lived with his family in Poland :p

[@unarcobalenointornoalsole6782]

Just in a Word? WonderLust!😉 Art Is the best voyage!🚀

[@dearpainternewyork1178]

Wow 💕

[@tanithkershaw]

I can't like this enough.

[@jsalnut]

I just wanna visit his collection and maybe share a cup of tea with him (in a platonic way).

[@luci1474]

I can hear him talk all day and all night. Purity, simplicity, intellect, etc. I dislike hearing ppl who think they are smart (and might be) with those presumption voices...

[@shidehhafezi6826]

I think being curious as well as authentic had a lot to do with with the luck he experienced in his life. Coming from a rich and educated family will also open up doors.

[@patrickenemy3577]

Funny to see how as Lust gets older, he looks more and more like a Giacometti sculpture.

[@christianegonbarnthaler1426]

super art 111

[@yamama3510]

He’s sharp

[@tomdavison9107]

This guy is great! No bullshit.

[@mukhlisbinmuslim73]

Unique artists of fun

[@Momma_AL]

Interesting guy.

[@usedtobecool6874]

i don't think luck had much to do with it.........more that he came from two good and wealthy parents.....but still a great story

[@davevanfunk8917]

What is the piece of art at 7:26?

[@kingafendikingafendi8897]

Art is something I like since I was in primary school not later in life not when art pieces were all over Singapore , now Singapore has lots of sculpture at almost everyday building and every path you walk than very good more people like talking photo with sculpture and cart pieces 😛😋😜🤪😝

[@user-nz4yd3iu4t]

멋찝니다~~~~

[@adamdoyle2804]

I’m crying

[@stuartwray6175]

"I never read literature before" ... "I always thought I was going to become a novelist"

[@oltedders]

@Gary Nelson No. Greatest Generation.

[@toddytapperswilhelm6374]

That dude is way too cool😃👍

[@austind3459]

Hoosiers!!

[@trout211]

I wish this could've been an hour long, with more details. His voice & cadence sound extremely similar to Actor/Producer, Jerry Weintraub (Ocean's 11-12-13).

[@lydiarowe491]

What a beautiful human this man is..maybe that was his luck..not being difficult..just curious⭐

[@vandolmatzis8146]

T he man is a Mensch The Giacommetti is Beautiful

[@bettinarossi7908]

FAB* U*LOUS*!❤

[@sdalby9127]

It wasn't luck, it was privilege.

[@Asf-bj4rw]

No it was luck, all these art collector people they show were lucky enough to be friends with artists who made it big. Over time they meet more people and own more pieces etc.

[@jacekpokrak9258]

Compmaturism is getting loud today. Another daughter of expressionism returns. This time, not only does the audience change, but also the profile of their creations. What unites compmaturists is maturity and compulsivity, i.e. an awakened child in a mature person. There is no question of work designs. In compmaturysm, the essence of the moment is the transience of the moment in which they create. It does not matter whether you paint, improvise on the piano or write poetry. like in academic painting. only when you stop having something to paint. Your works in the standard grade are unfinished. But it's not true. This is exactly what the finished work looks like. thrilling direction.

[@trout211]

Mr. Lust has a definite lust for life, as seemingly accidental as it may appear.

[@rahulkabir8708]

Sir I have historical document later of Gandhi ji famous leader of India I have to sale it how and where I don't know please help me

[@anuragtomar1546]

Rahul Kapil kindly donate it to national archives of india

[@juancantu6169]

Rahul Kapil How much are you asking for it?

[@michaelwilcox5168]

There’s nothing accidental or lucky about being the scion of a generationally wealthy family and having the freedom to explore and make mistakes.

[@BlactinaMedia]

"Im just lucky, I dont know why"....10 mins later. "My father comes from the Jewish aristocracy."

[@reybeloart]

Bela coleção!

[@tradebuzzscalptradinglive7296]

A dream of a life,and all by accident!😇