He studied Art History at Ghent University. From 1968 to 1977 he was the deputy director of the Palace of Fine Arts in Brussels and then became an antiquarian. In 1985 he founded the Yves Gevaert publishing company and mainly published artist's books, prints and catalogues. In addition to books by, among others, Dirk Lauwaert, Dieter Lesage, Chris Marker and Frank Vande Veire, he also regularly publishes books by Rodney Graham, Jan Vercruysse and Lawrence Weiner.