In February 2026, the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation made a significant donation of 14 works to Paris Musées, the consortium of Paris municipal museums. These exceptional pieces will enrich the collections of two prominent institutions: the Carnavalet Museum and the Museum of Modern Art of Paris. This announcement comes just a few months after the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the artists’ iconic ephemeral work, “The Pont-Neuf Wrapped,” which took place from September 22 to October 5, 1985.
A Historic Donation to Parisian Collections
The donation includes a diverse range of works, providing a comprehensive insight into the artistic journey of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Among the notable pieces is an original collage related to the “Project for a Gigantic Package, 1967,” an unrealized vision where the artists imagined wrapping a series of Parisian buildings from the Madeleine Church to the Hôtel de la Marine. This piece offers a glimpse into their early conceptual explorations.
The collection also features three serigraphs and one lithograph specifically concerning their Parisian projects: “The Iron Curtain-Wall of Oil Barrels, Rue Visconti, Paris, 1961-62,” dated 1968; “Wrapped Public Building, Project (Arc de Triomphe, Paris),” from 1968; “Wrapped Public Building, Project (Ecole Militaire, Paris),” from 1968; and “The Pont Neuf Wrapped, Paris, 1975-85,” from 1991. These works highlight their long-standing engagement with the French capital’s landmarks.
A major early work by Christo, “Package on a Luggage Rack, 1962,” will complement the museum’s collection dedicated to New Realism. Additionally, the maquette of the monumental sculpture “Package 5,600 cubic meters, Documenta IV, Kassel, 1967-68” is part of the donation, showcasing their ambitious large-scale installations.
Seven additional serigraphs are included: “Package 5,600 cubic meters, Documenta IV, Kassel, 1967-68”; “Package 42,390 cubic meters, Minneapolis, 1966”; “Wrapped Buildings of South Manhattan, 2 Broadway and 20 Exchange Place, Project”; “Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna of Rome, Wrapped, project”; “4,716 Metal Barrels, project for the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Rome”; and “Shop Window, Corridor, Project,” all dated 1968. These pieces collectively illustrate the artists’ global reach and consistent thematic interests.
Celebrating a Legacy: The Pont-Neuf and Beyond
The donation coincides with the 40th anniversary of “The Pont-Neuf Wrapped,” a monumental project that saw Paris’s oldest bridge enveloped in 41,800 square meters of fabric, secured by 13 kilometers of ropes and 12 tons of steel cables. This installation, which required the expertise of twelve engineers and 300 specialized workers, was on display for fifteen days in 1985 and captivated millions.
To commemorate this anniversary and honor the artists’ enduring connection to Paris, the public square located between the Square du Vert-Galant and the Pont-Neuf has been officially named Place du Pont-Neuf-Christo-et-Jeanne-Claude. This permanent tribute recognizes their profound impact on the city’s cultural landscape.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, both born on June 13, 1935, would have celebrated their 90th birthdays in 2025. From the 1960s onwards, the couple used canvases, cables, and metal structures to create ephemeral works that typically lasted about two weeks. Their artistic practice involved wrapping various sites, buildings, monuments, parks, and landscapes. Christo was responsible for the drawings, while Jeanne-Claude managed the realization of their ambitious projects.
Their unique relationship with the French capital is marked by three monumental works: “Wall of Oil Barrels – The Iron Curtain” (Rue Visconti, 1961-1962); “The Pont-Neuf Wrapped” (1975-1985); and “L’Arc de Triomphe Wrapped” (1961-2021). The latter, conceived in 1961, was realized posthumously in 2021 under the direction of Vladimir Yavachev, Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s nephew and project director. This installation alone attracted 6 million visitors.
Throughout their shared artistic career, Christo and Jeanne-Claude undertook monumental projects worldwide, including “The Umbrellas” (Japan-USA, 1984-1991), “The Floating Piers” (Lake Iseo, Italy, 2014-2016), and “The London Mastaba” (Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park, 2016-2018). The year 2025 also marks significant anniversaries for two other iconic projects: the 20th anniversary of “The Gates” in New York in February and the 30th anniversary of “Wrapped Reichstag” in Berlin in June.
The donation by the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation ensures that their legacy and artistic vision will continue to inspire and educate future generations through the permanent collections of Paris Musées, further cementing their place in art history.
Source: https://www.paris.fr/pages/christo-et-jeanne-claude-donnent-leur-nom-a-la-place-du-pont-neuf-quarante-ans-apres-l-avoir-empaquete-32444
