The artist Christo, known for creating monumental, yet temporary, public art installations around the world with his late wife Jeanne-Claude, died on May 31 at the age of 84.
Their work often involved large swathes of fabric, draped over structures or blowing in the wind. Bringing their expansive vision to life sometimes took decades, as the artists engineered the concepts, raised the necessary funds, and cleared legal and environmental hurdles to secure permits and permissions—that could require getting permission from the government, judges, landowners, environmental groups, and local residents, to name just a few stakeholders.
The Gates, their famous installation in New York City’s Central Park in 2005, took 26 years to complete. Over a half century of work, the duo realized 23 of their ambitious projects—and another 47 exist in concept alone.
Here, see photographs of some of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s most important completed works, from their Berlin Wall protest piece, Wall of Oil Barrels—The Iron Curtain, erected illegally in Paris in 1962, to 2018’s The London Mastaba, a massive stack of 7,506 barrels floated on Hyde Park’s Serpentine Lake in London.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Wall of Oil Barrels – The Iron Curtain (1961–62), Rue Visconti, Paris. Photo by Jean-Dominique Lajoux, ©1962 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Wall of Oil Barrels – The Iron Curtain (1961–62), Rue Visconti, Paris. Photo by Jean-Dominique Lajoux, ©1962 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude Valley Curtain (1970–72), Rifle, Colorado. Photo by Harry Shunk, courtesy of the Shunk-Kender Archive, ©1972 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Valley Curtain (1970–72), Rifle, Colorado. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1972 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Valley Curtain (1970–72), Rifle, Colorado. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1972 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Valley Curtain (1970–72), Rifle, Colorado. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1972 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Valley Curtain (1970–72), Rifle, Colorado. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1972 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California, (1972–76). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1976 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California, (1972–76). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1976 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California, (1972–76). Photo courtesy of Christo and Jeanne-Claude/SAAM.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California, (1972–76). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1976 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California (1972–76). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1976 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California (1972–76). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1976 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California (1972–76). Photo by Gianfranco Gorgoni ©1976 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California (1972–76). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1976 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California, (1972–76). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1976 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California (1972–76). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1976 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California (1972–76). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1976 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California (1972–76). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1976 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Surrounded Islands (1980–83), Biscayne Bay, Miami. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1983 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Surrounded Islands (1980–83), Biscayne Bay, Miami. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1983 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Surrounded Islands (1980–83), Biscayne Bay, Miami. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1983 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Surrounded Islands (1980–83), Biscayne Bay, Miami. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1983 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Surrounded Islands (1980–83), Biscayne Bay, Miami. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1983 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Surrounded Islands (1980–83), Biscayne Bay, Miami. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1983 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Surrounded Islands (1980–83), Biscayne Bay, Miami. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1983 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Pont Neuf Wrapped (1975–85), Paris. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1985 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Pont Neuf Wrapped (1975–85), Paris. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1985 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Pont Neuf Wrapped (1975–85), Paris. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1985 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Pont Neuf Wrapped (1975–85), Paris. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1985 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Pont Neuf Wrapped (1975–85), Paris. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1985 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Pont Neuf Wrapped (1975–85), Paris. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1985 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Pont Neuf Wrapped (1975–85), Paris. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1985 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Pont Neuf Wrapped (1975–85), Paris. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1985 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Umbrellas (1984–91), Japan/USA. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1991 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Umbrellas (1984–91), Japan/USA. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1991 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Umbrellas (1984–91), Japan/USA. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1991 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Umbrellas (1984–91), Japan/USA. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1991 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Umbrellas (1984–91), Japan/USA. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1991 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Umbrellas (1984–91), Japan/USA. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1991 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Umbrellas (1984–91), Japan/USA. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1991 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Umbrellas (1984–91), Japan/USA. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©1991 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Wrapped Reichstag (1971–95), Berlin. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1995 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Wrapped Reichstag (1971–95), Berlin. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1995 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Wrapped Reichstag (1971–95), Berlin. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1995 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Wrapped Reichstag (1971–95), Berlin. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1995 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Wrapped Reichstag (1971–95), Berlin. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1995 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Wrapped Reichstag (1971–95), Berlin. Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©1995 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Gates (2005), Central Park. Photo by Spencer Tucker, courtesy of NYC Parks.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Gates (2005), Central Park. Photo by Spencer Tucker, courtesy of NYC Parks.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Gates (2005), Central Park. Photo by Malcolm Pinckney, courtesy of NYC Parks.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Gates (2005), Central Park. Photo by Malcolm Pinckney, courtesy of NYC Parks.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Gates (2005), Central Park. Photo by Wolfgang Volz.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Gates (2005), Central Park. Photo by Malcolm Pinckney, courtesy of NYC Parks.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Floating Piers, Lake Iseo, Italy, (2014–16). Photo by Wolfgang Volz ©2016 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The London Mastaba (2016–18), Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©2018 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The London Mastaba (2016–18), Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©2018 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The London Mastaba (2016–18), Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©2018 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The London Mastaba (2016–18), Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©2018 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The London Mastaba (2016–18), Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©2018 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The London Mastaba (2016–18), Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©2018 Christo.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The London Mastaba (2016–18), Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park. Photo by Wolfgang Volz, ©2018 Christo.