Christo and Jeanne-Claude | Christo + JC
01/06/2020, 23/06/2026
Art
Christo Vladimirov Javacheff and Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon formed one of the best-known couples in the art world – Christo + JC. Both were born on the same day (13 June 1935), he in Bulgaria and she in Morocco. Together, they created a series of large scale installations. These usually remained in place for around two weeks. The materials were entirely recycled after the dismantling and the projects were funded by the artists themselves. Below, there is a selection of some of their major works.

Pont neuf wrapped (Wrapped Pont Neuf), Paris (1975-85)

In this project, Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped Paris’s Pont Neuf in over 40,000 square metres of fabric, 13 kilometres of rope and 12 tonnes of chains. The installation was designed with the help of American engineers and was approved by the city and state authorities. The bridge’s supporting arches and even the lampposts were wrapped.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude:
The Pont Neuf Wrapped, Paris, 1975-85
Photo: Wolfgang Volz. ©1985 Christo + Wolfgang Volz

Reichstag wrapped, Berlin (1971-95)

Like the Parisian bridge project, this project involved wrapping the German parliament building. It required almost 100,000 square metres of fabric and 16 kilometres of rope. The artists’ interest in textiles is evident in many of their works. The material’s texture and fluidity is highlighted through folds and pleats.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin 1971-95
Photo: Wolfgang Volz. ©1995 Christo + Wolfgang Volz
Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin 1971-95 Photo: Wolfgang Volz. ©1995 Christo + Wolfgang Volz

The Gates , New York (1979-2005)

In 2005, 7,503 gates, each nearly 5 metres high, were installed in Central Park. Spanning a total length of 37 kilometres, this project became known as “The Gates”. Orange fabric was attached to the top of these gates, hanging down to a height of approximately 2.13 metres above the ground.
The Gates
Photo: Wolfgang Volz
Source: https://christojeanneclaude.net/
The Gates inside Central Park.
Photo: Wolfgang Volz
Source: https://christojeanneclaude.net/

Surrounded Islands, Miami (1980-83)

The artists encircled 11 islands in the Biscayne Bay area of Miami with a floating pink fabric. People could view the artwork from a distance – by boat, from the waterfront, or from above.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Surrounded Islands, Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980-83

Floating piers, Iseo Lake, Italy (2016)

Similar to the previous example, the ‘Floating Piers’ project encircled an island on Lake Iseo, in Italy. Originally conceived in 1970, this was the first monumental work carried out by Christo following the death of Jeanne-Claude, in 2009. The difference in this installation is that, in addition to the fabric, panels were used over which people could walk on. The installation therefore functioned as a yellow coloured pier, a 2.5-kilometre-long walkway over water.

Photo: Wolfgang Volz
Source: https://christojeanneclaude.net/
Photo: Wolfgang Volz
Source: https://christojeanneclaude.net/

Mastaba, Londres (2016-2018)

The floating sculpture, made up of 7,506 coloured barrels, was on display on the Serpentine Lakes between June and September 2018. At the same time, an exhibition of the work by the duo was held at the Serpentine Gallery.
Photo: Wolfgang Volz
Source: https://christojeanneclaude.net/
The wrapping of another monument – the Arc de Triomphe in Paris – had been scheduled for 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the date has been postponed to September–October 2021.

Addendum 2026

In June 2026, the Pont Neuf in Paris was once again wrapped. This time, as a tribute to the installation by Christo + JC, the French artist JR created an inflatable structure whose shape resembled the silhouette of a mountain range. Entitled “La caverne” (translation: The Cave), the structure stood 18 metres at its highest point and stretched the entire length of the bridge. Both the inner and outer walls were printed with images of caves.

Originally scheduled for Saturday 6 June, the opening had to be postponed until the 15th due to damage caused by the weather. JR’s artwork will be open to visitors 24 hours a day until the 28th of June.


During this period, the walls of the platforms at the ‘Pont Neuf – La Monnaie’ metro station were covered with photographs of the artwork.

Images on the metro

The historical significance of the Pont Neuf

It is worth mentioning that the Pont Neuf (translation: New Bridge) was once as iconic for the French capital as the Eiffel Tower. It was opened in 1606 and became the city’s longest (278m) and widest (28m) bridge. It was the first bridge to be built of stone (until then, all bridges had been made of wood) and the first to be built without houses. At the time, bridge construction was usually funded by the sale of houses on the bridges. The Pont Neuf, however, was funded by the Crown, using tax revenue. Instead of houses on both sides of the bridge, pavements were laid. The bridge’s layout was more like a public square, so it became a popular spot, hosting ceremonies, fireworks displays and other events.

References : 

JR engulfs Paris’s oldest bridge with giant cavernous inflatable , acesso 23 de Junho 2026

« La Caverne du Pont-Neuf » : l’incroyable projet de – Ville de Paris , acesso 23 de Junho 2026

Jones, Colin, 2009. Paris : Biografia de uma cidade. L&PM, Porto Alegre.

Art