were a visionary artist duo best known for their monumental, fabric-based installations that transformed public spaces into temporary works of art. Born on the same day, June 13, 1935, Christo in Bulgaria and Jeanne-Claude in France, the two met in Paris in 1958, eventually marrying and forming a lifelong creative partnership.

Their collaborative work involved wrapping buildings, bridges, landscapes, and coastlines in fabric, creating immersive, large-scale interventions in both urban and natural environments. These projects often took years, or even decades in some cases, to complete due to the extensive planning, engineering, and permitting required. Yet each finished work became a powerful statement about presence, impermanence, and public space.

Among their most iconic projects: Wrapped Reichstag (Berlin, 1995), which swathed Germany’s Parliament building in silver fabric following the Cold War; The Gates (Central Park, NYC, 2005), a flowing network of saffron-colored curtains; and Surrounded Islands (Miami, 1983), where 11 islands in Biscayne Bay were bordered by vibrant pink fabric.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work invited viewers to consider the fragility of the environment, the relationship between nature and human intervention, and the beauty of the ephemeral. All their installations were public and free to experience, and notably self-funded through the sale of preparatory drawings and models—reinforcing their belief in independence and accessibility in art.

Jeanne-Claude passed away in 2009, followed by Christo in 2020. Their legacy continues through the powerful ideas they championed.