The National Gallery presents, for the first time, an exhibition dedicated to Christo and Jeanne-Claude, marking the 90th anniversary of the birth of the visionary artistic duo. The exhibition features the first acquisition of Christo’s iconic work for the museum’s collection – “Wrapped Reichstag” (Project for Berlin, 1971–1995) from 1986, along with other original collages.
The realization of this project took 24 years, during which Christo and Jeanne-Claude completed eight other projects also included in the exhibition: The Gates in Central Park, New York City (1979–2005); The Umbrellas in Japan and the USA (1984–1991); The Pont Neuf Wrapped in Paris (1975–1985); Surrounded Islands in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida (1980–1983); Wrapped Walk Ways in Loose Park, Kansas City, Missouri (1977–1978); Running Fence in Sonoma and Marin Counties, California (1972–1976); Oceanfront in Newport, Rhode Island (1974); The Wall – Wrapped Roman Wall at Via Veneto and Villa Borghese, Rome, Italy (1973–1974); and Valley Curtain in Rifle, Colorado (1970–1972).
Archival video materials, photographs, and documents from the wrapping of the Reichstag – the emblematic building that remains a symbol of democracy to this day – present a unique historical narrative of this monumental project.
With this exhibition, the National Gallery also marks two important anniversaries of the artists’ visionary projects – 30 years since The Wrapped Reichstag in Berlin and 40 years since The Pont Neuf Wrapped in Paris. These events represent not only key milestones in the artistic journey of Christo and Jeanne-Claude but also moments that have shaped the cultural history of Europe.
About Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Christo Vladimirov Javacheff and Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon were both born on June 13, 1935, in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, and Casablanca, Morocco, respectively. During the communist regime, Christo studied at the National Academy of Art in Sofia from 1952 to 1956, before leaving Bulgaria. His escape to the West took him through Prague and Vienna before he settled in Geneva. In 1958, he moved to Paris, where he met Jeanne-Claude. She became his wife and partner in the creation of monumental environmental works of art. Jeanne-Claude passed away on November 18, 2009, and Christo on May 31, 2020, at his home in New York City, where he had lived for 56 years.
The work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude transcends the traditional boundaries of painting, sculpture, and architecture – from their early wrapped objects to their monumental outdoor projects: Wrapped Coast near Sydney (1968–1969), Valley Curtain in Colorado (1970–1972), Running Fence in California (1972–1976), Surrounded Islands in Miami (1980–1983), The Pont Neuf Wrapped in Paris (1975–1985), The Umbrellas in Japan and California (1984–1991), Wrapped Reichstag in Berlin (1972–1995), The Gates in Central Park, New York (1979–2005), The Floating Piers on Lake Iseo, Italy (2014–2016), The London Mastaba on the Serpentine Lake, London (2016–2018), and L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped in Paris (1961–2021).
Curator: Gergana Mihova
The exhibition is organized in collaboration with the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation.
Partners: French Institute in Bulgaria and Goethe-Institut Bulgaria.
Media partners: Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) and SOF Connect.