Christo and Jeanne-Claude

husband-and-wife environmental installation artist duo

Christo Vladimirov Javacheff (June 13, 1935 – May 31, 2020) and Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon (June 13, 1935 – November 18, 2009) were a married couple who created environmental works of art.

Jeanne-Claude and Christo in May 2009

Their works include the wrapping of the Reichstag in Berlin and the Pont-Neuf bridge in Paris, the 39-kilometer-long (24 mi) artwork called Running Fence in Sonoma and Marin counties in California, and The Gates in New York City's Central Park.

Christo was born in Gabrovo, present-day Bulgaria. Jeanne-Claude was born in Casablanca, present-day Morocco. They met in Paris in 1958. In 1964, they moved to New York City where they began their joint art career.

Their works were given credit to "Christo" only, until 1994, when the outdoor works and large indoor were credited to "Christo and Jeanne-Claude".[1] They flew in separate planes: in case one crashed, the other could continue their work.[2]

Jeanne-Claude died, aged 74, on November 18, 2009 in New York City, from problems caused by a brain aneurysm.[1] Christo died on May 31, 2020, of natural causes in New York City, aged 84.[3]

References

change
  1. 1.0 1.1 Grimes, William (November 19, 2009). "Jeanne-Claude, Collaborator With Christo, Dies at 74". The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
  2. Miller, Stephen; Crow, Kelly (November 20, 2009). "Part of a Creative Powerhouse Behind Ephemeral Artworks". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
  3. "Christo, artist known for massive, fleeting displays, dies". AP NEWS. 2020-05-31. Retrieved 2020-05-31.