Motivated solely by a mission to spread joy and celebrate beauty through their work, Christo and Jeanne-Claude (1935–2020; 1935–2009) created riveting large-scale public art installations that pushed ephemeral art to an entirely unprecedented new level. While the pair created prints, photography and a range of other types of art, they’re best known for their installations — working with a combination of textiles and industrial materials, Christo and Jeanne-Claude created colossal site-specific sculptures and other projects that frequently included wrapping monuments, walkways and even coastlines in reams of fabric in order to draw attention and encourage viewers to experience familiar objects and places in entirely new ways.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude frequently incorporated nature’s forces into their works, creating billowing fence lines, enormous inflatable free-standing structures and colorful floating walkways. Partners in life and art, the pair designed installations that often took years or even decades to realize and lasted for only days or weeks. Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s preparatory works and detailed drawings and collages are today a testament to their intricate ephemeral masterpieces and legacy.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s stories, incredibly, began on the exact same day — on June 13, 1935, Christo Vladimirov Javacheff was born in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, and on the very same day in Casablanca, Morocco, Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon was born. While Jeanne-Claude received a broad education and a baccalauréat in Latin and philosophy, growing up in France, Switzerland, Morocco and Tunisia, Christo studied art from the age of six years old. He went on to study painting, drawing, architecture and sculpture at the National Academy of Art in Sofia before leaving Bulgaria to escape the Hungarian Revolution.
Christo spent time in Prague before a brief stint at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, moving on then to Geneva and ultimately France. He made money by painting portraits for wealthy families. After being hired by Jeanne-Claude’s mother to paint three portraits of her, Christo met his future wife and collaborator. The pair created their first environmental installation, Dockside Packages and Stacked Oil Barrels, in 1961.
Together, Christo and Jeanne-Claude pursued increasingly ambitious projects, proposing to wrap everything from trees in Wrapped Trees, Foundation Beyeler and Berower Park, Riehen, Switzerland, 1997-98 to important public buildings including the Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin, 1971–95. They also created free-standing abstract sculptures such as the 5,600 Cubicmeter Package, billowing curtains such as Valley Curtain, Rifle, Colorado, 1970–72, and proposed installations in locations as far-flung as Dubai and Japan. These projects and others have been linked to the Pop art-adjacent nouveau réalisme movement.
Classically trained in drawing, Christo created preparatory sketches and collages for the projects, selling his artwork to independently fund the monumental temporary installations the pair erected. Meanwhile, Jeanne-Claude advocated for the pair’s artwork, speaking at public forums, sending proposals to municipal governments, and using her unique combination of compelling charm and stoic stubbornness to get their projects approved.
Devoted to their ideals of spreading joy and beauty, the pair accepted no commissions or commercial collaborations — all their installations were funded purely by the sale of their preparatory art. The last of their realized urban works, that 2005 project invited New Yorkers to go for a glorious walk through 7,503 saffron-fabric-draped portals along the pathways of Central Park. More than 4 million people did.
Christo’s wrapped sculptures, which he began making early in his career, as well as his preparatory works, are held in the permanent collections of museums and other institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Centre Pompidou. Jeanne-Claude died in 2009, and Christo continued to realize the pair’s planned projects until his own passing in 2020.
Find original Christo prints, photography and other art on 1stDibs.
The Umbrellas, Joint Project for Japan and the U.S.A.
By Christo
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Christo Title: The Umbrellas, Joint Project for Japan and the U.S.A. Medium: Offset lithograph in colors on wove paper Date: 1987 Edition: Unnumbered Sheet Size: 36 3/4" x 27...
Lithograph
Art Card: The Gates (Hand signed by Christo and Jeanne-Claude) Framed provenance
By Christo
Located in New York, NY
Makes a wonderful gift! Offset lithograph card (Hand signed Christo et Jeanne-Claude) Christo's "The Gates" was one of the most popular and successful temporary public art installati...
Postcard
Christo, 5600 Cubicmeter Package (Monuments) - Signed Print
By Christo
Located in Hamburg, DE
Christo (American-Bulgarian, b. 1935) 5600 Cubicmeter Package (from Monuments), 1968 Medium: Offset lithograph on Bristol board Dimensions: 70 × 54.5 cm (27 3/5 × 21 1/2 in) Edition ...
Offset
"The Gates VIII, from Project for Central Park, New York" signed lithograph
By Christo
Located in Boca Raton, FL
"The Gates VIII, from Project for Central Park, New York" offset lithograph in colors on wove paper. Signed Christo in pencil on front lower right. Sheet size: 39 x 27 1/2 inches (99...
Lithograph
The MCA Wrapped, 1969, Lithograph, Lt. Ed 300, gold foil stamp Museum provenance
By Christo
Located in New York, NY
Christo The MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Wrapped, Chicago, 1969, 2019 Limited Edition Four-color offset lithograph on 110 lb. Crane Lettra Cover stock, with an elegant gold foil...
Foil
Over the River, Project for Colorado, The Arkansas River, Seen from Underneath
By Christo
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Christo Title: Over The River, Project for Colorado, The Arkansas River, Seen From Underneath Medium: Offset lithograph in colors on wove paper Date: 1992 Edition: Unnumbered...
Lithograph
Monograph: Christo The Gates Project for Central Park NYC (Signed and Inscribed)
By Christo
Located in New York, NY
Super rare original signed The Gates proposal book for famous art critic: Christo: The Gates Project for Central Park New York City (Hand Signed and Inscribed to art critic Anthony ...
Mixed Media, Pencil, Offset, Board, Lithograph
Signed and numbered lithograph for highway across America #115/150, Schelmann 51
By Christo
Located in New York, NY
CHRISTO Closed Highway, Project for 5000 Miles, 6 Lanes East-West Highway (Schellmann, 51), 1972 Lithograph with Offset lettering on wove paper Hand signed in felt tip pen and pencil...
Pencil, Lithograph, Offset
$960Sale Price|20% Off
CHRISTO ' PONTE NEUF EMPAQUETTE-LONG VIEW - 1985
By Christo
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Christo Title: Ponte Neuf Empaquette-Long View Medium: Photograph Size: 25 x 38 inches Year: 1985 Publisher: Nouvelles Image Reference #: Schellmann 86 Hand signed by the art...
Offset
Christo, Lower Manhattan Packed Buildings (Monuments) - Signed Print
By Christo
Located in Hamburg, DE
Christo (American-Bulgarian, b. 1935) Lower Manhattan Packed Buildings (2 Broadway and 20 Exchange Place, from Monuments), 1968 Medium: Offset and screen print on Bristol board Dimen...
Offset, Screen
Christo - Edifice Public Epaqueté, Project (from Monuments) - Signed Print
By Christo
Located in Hamburg, DE
Christo (American-Bulgarian, b. 1935) Edifice Public Epaqueté, Project (Ecole Militaire de Paris, from Monuments), 1968 Medium: Screen print on Bristol board Dimensions: 70 × 54.5 cm...
Screen
$1,598
H 40 in W 30 in D 0.05 in
Original Washington D.C. American Airlines vintage travel poster Midcentury
By Edward McKnight Kauffer
Located in Spokane, WA
Original Washington (D.C.) American Airlines mid-century vintage travel poster. Professional archival linen backed in very fine condition, ready to frame. Featuring one of the ...
Lithograph
$8,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 40.5 in W 28 in
Charms against harms, Robert Rauschenberg
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008) Title: Charms against harms Year: 1993 Medium: Lithograph on wove paper Edition: H.C. 8/15, 100, plus proofs Size: 40.5 x 28 inches Condition:...
Lithograph
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
H 25 in W 20.5 in
Museum-Published Lt'd Ed. 60's Litho Set of 'As I Opened Fire'
By (after) Roy Lichtenstein
Located in New Orleans, LA
This is a lithographically printed reproduction of a sensationally fun Lichtenstein triptych he painted in 1964, produced by the Stedelijk Museum...
Archival Paper, Lithograph
$450
H 13.75 in W 10.25 in
Congregational Church, Old Lyme, CT. (quintessential New England landmark)
By Walter DuBois Richards
Located in New Orleans, LA
The Old Lyme Congregational Church located on Ferry Road, a quintessentially New England landmark, was captured by Walter DuBois Richards. The church was a favorite subject of Old Ly...
Lithograph
Ocean View Wind Patterns, Camden Maine
By Yvonne Jacquette
Located in Lyons, CO
Color lithograph, Edition 30. Jacquette also creates compelling images of the landscape and the sea from the air or atop hills or mountains. In this colorful print she depicts a view of the Maine...
Lithograph
$1,540
H 22 in W 30 in
His Own Eclipse, Screen Print, Pop Art, Hand Signed, Edition of 250, 1978
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered. Blind stamped in lower left corner. Don't hesitate to ask any questions. Certificate of Authenticity included. Published by AMX Art Ltd., NY and printed by ...
Screen, Paper
Flores para la Ñusta II
By Ana Maria Hernando
Located in Lyons, CO
Color lithograph with cut outs, Edition 30. Flores para la Ñusta translates as "Flowers for the Ñusta". The artist states: "In the Andean cosmology, the Ñusta is the feminine ...
Lithograph
$350
H 21.5 in W 28.5 in
Fermeture Anneulle, Hand Drawn Lithograph 1982, French Park Landscape
Located in Union City, NJ
Fermeture Annuelle is an original hand drawn, limited edition color lithograph by the master French landscape painter Michel de Saint-Alban. The print was created in the 1980's using...
Lithograph
$198
H 16.5 in W 12 in D 0.3 in
Original 1975 Aspen, Colorado vintage town and Rocky Mountains poster
Located in Spokane, WA
Original Aspen Colorado town and mountain scene printed in 1975. Artist: Jim Ford. This poster is archivally linen-backed in excellent condition, Grade A, and ready to frame. No...
Offset
$679Sale Price|20% Off
H 47 in W 31 in D 0.05 in
Original "Point Bleu Radio" vintage poster, faithful reflection of the world
By Pierre Baudouin 1
Located in Spokane, WA
Original lithograph: POINT BLEU RADIO. Artist: Pierre. Baudouin (1921 - 1971). Size is 31" x 47". Archival linen backed and ready to frame. Cleaned and restored rare original French antique...
Lithograph
$200Sale Price|50% Off
H 23.8 in W 23.8 in
Death Paradise (Street Art, Satire, Pop Surrealism, Skeleton, Palm Angels)
By Jan-Frederic Frey
Located in Kansas City, MO
Jan-Frederic Frey Death Paradise (Street Art, Satire, Pop Surrealism, Skeleton, Palm Angels) Giclée / Iris Print on Hahnemuehle Velvet 2020 Size: 23.25 x 23.25 inches (59 cm x 59 cm)...
Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Giclée
$2,800
H 25.5 in W 19.8 in
Salvador Dalí Whoever Takes Carmen (Salvador Dalí prints Salvador Dalí Carmen)
By Salvador Dalí
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Salvador Dalí Whoever Takes Carmen Away Must Pay with His Life 1970 (from Carmen): Lithograph in colors on Arches paper. 25.5 x 19.8 inches (64.8 x 50.5 cm). Good overall vintage ...
Paper, Lithograph
The Gates, Project for Central Park, New York City XIX
By Christo
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Christo Title: The Gates, Project for Central Park, New York City XIX Medium: Offset lithograph in colors on wove paper Date: 2004 Edition: Unnumbered Sheet Size: 28 1/4" x 4...
Lithograph
Over The River, Project for the Arkansas River, State of Colorado
By Christo
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Christo Title: Over The River, Project for the Arkansas River, State of Colorado Medium: Offset lithograph in colors on Rives vellum ragpaper Date: 1996 Edition: Unnumbered S...
Lithograph
Sold
H 39 in W 27.75 in D 0.03 in
Christo 'The Gates I' Central Park, New York Signed Print
By Christo
Located in San Rafael, CA
Christo (1935-2020) 'The Gates I' - Project for Central Park, New York City Offset lithograph Based on the original multi-media collage created in 1990 Signed by Christo in orange crayon lower left margin Sheet: 39in H x 27 3/4in L (unframed) Published by Schumacher Edition Fils, Dusseldorf Christo and Jeanne-Claude designed and installed 7,503 "gates" with saffron-colored fabric panels. The exhibit ran from February 12, 2005 through February 27, 2005 along 23 miles of pathways in Central Park in New York City. The Gates alludes to the tradition of Japanese Shinto torii gates similar to the paths of the Fushimi Inari...
Offset
Sold
H 34 in W 49 in D 1 in
CHRISTO 'THE GATES XXVI - 2003', HAND SIGNED OFFSET LITHOGRAPH
By Christo
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Christo Title: The Gates XXVII Medium: Photo lithograph Size: 34 X 49 inches Year: 2003 Publisher: Schumacher, Dusseldorf Hand signed by the artist. In excellent condition K...
Lithograph
CHRISTO 'PONTE NEUF EMPAQUETTE-SMALL - 1985
By Christo
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Christo Title: Ponte Neuf Empaquette-Small Medium: Photograph Size: 26 x 27 inches Year: 1985 Publisher: Nouvelles Image Reference #: Schellmann 86 Hand signed by the artist ...
Offset
Sold
H 34 in W 49 in D 1 in
CHRISTO 'THE GATES XXVI - 2003', HAND SIGNED OFFSET LITHOGRAPH
By Christo
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Christo Title: The Gates XXVII Medium: Photo lithograph Size: 34 X 49 inches Year: 2003 Publisher: Schumacher, Dusseldorf Hand signed by the artist In excellent condition Gal...
Lithograph
Sold
H 12 in W 12 in D 1.5 in
Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Wrapped Reichstag monograph & slipcase, LT Ed Signed
By Christo
Located in New York, NY
Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin, 1971-1995, 1996 Hardback monograph with slipcase (hand signed and numbered - Hors Commerce edition, reserved for artists and contributors) Signed by Christo, Jeanne-Claude and photographer Wolfgang Volz and numbered numbered HC-694/HC-700 on the colophon. Also has an encased piece of the actual Reichstag wrapping! fabric! 12 × 12 × 1 1/2 inches Makes a memorable gift! It's hand signed and numbered - with a piece of the actual Reichstag wrapping fabric laid in. Signed by Christo, Jeanne-Claude and Wolfgang Volz and numbered numbered HC-694 on the colophon page (an Hors Commerce [not for sale] edition reserved for artists and collaborators) Original textured silver cloth with blue lettering on spine, housed in matching photo-illustrated slipcase, black lettering on spine. Contains an example of the original aluminum mesh used to wrap the Reichstag, framed in white cardboard (9 x 9") at inside back cover. Documentation of one of the startling and most stunning public art projects, representing the essence of conceptual art on a scale unmatched in the 20th century, one might say. 100 rock climbers abseiling down the facade of the Reichstag, without cranes or machinery being used in the project. This publication provides vivid documentation and a perspective of the extent of the project by the Bulgarian artist. His personal view, as expressed in The Guardian: "Artist - and above all architects - seek permanence," he said. "I don't. I like leaving nothing. That takes courage." His projects were funded mainly by selling preparatory drawings, always refusing sponsorship. Christo forbade the Three Tenors...
Mixed Media, Graphite, Lithograph, Offset
Christo 'The Gates' NYC Signed Print, 2005
By Christo
Located in San Rafael, CA
Christo Javacheff (1935-2020) The Gates XV, 2005 Project for Central Park, NYC Offset lithograph in colors on wove paper Signed lower left Published by Kunstverlag Schumacher GmbH, Dusseldorf and NYGS Sheet: 10.5in H x 12.25in L Christo and Jeanne-Claude designed and installed 7,503 "gates" with saffron-colored fabric panels. The exhibit ran from February 12, 2005 through February 27, 2005 along 23 miles of pathways in Central Park in New York City. The Gates alludes to the tradition of Japanese Shinto torii gates similar to the paths of the Fushimi Inari...
Offset
Sold
H 19.75 in W 27.5 in
Christo 'The Umbrellas - Joint Project for Japan and USA' (Blue) Signed Print
By Christo
Located in San Rafael, CA
Christo (Bulgarian, 1935-2020) The Umbrellas (Joint Project for Japan and USA), 1991 (Blue) Offset lithograph on wove paper, Signed in crayon lower righ...
Offset
Sold
H 19.75 in W 27.5 in
Christo 'The Umbrellas - Joint Project for Japan and USA' (Yellow) Signed Print
By Christo
Located in San Rafael, CA
Christo (Bulgarian, 1935-2020) The Umbrellas (Joint Project for Japan and USA), 1991 (Yellow) Offset lithograph on wove paper, Signed in crayon lower le...
Offset
Sold
H 19.5 in W 27.25 in
Christo 'The Umbrellas - Joint Project for Japan and USA' (Yellow) Signed Print
By Christo
Located in San Rafael, CA
Christo (Bulgarian, 1935-2020) The Umbrellas (Joint Project for Japan and USA), 1991 (Yellow) Offset lithograph on wove paper, Signed in crayon lower le...
Offset
Sold
H 19.5 in W 27.25 in
Christo 'The Umbrellas - Joint Project for Japan and USA' (Blue) Signed Print
By Christo
Located in San Rafael, CA
Christo (Bulgarian, 1935-2020) The Umbrellas (Joint Project for Japan and USA), 1991 (Blue) Offset lithograph on wove paper, Signed in crayon lower righ...
Offset