New York’s The Shed will host a major retrospective celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Gates, the monumental public art installation by Christo and Jeanne-Claude that captivated the city in February 2005.
The exhibition, titled Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealised Projects for New York City, will run from February 12 to March 23, 2025, and will feature original drawings, scale models, photographs, and videos from the iconic project, alongside a selection of the artists’ never-realised proposals for the city.
The Gates, a sprawling installation of 7,503 saffron-coloured fabric-draped gates spanning 23 miles of Central Park’s pathways, was a transformative moment for public art. It drew over four million visitors during its 16-day display and generated an estimated $254 million in economic activity for the city. For many, it symbolised a city rebounding from the trauma of 9/11, offering a shared experience of beauty and renewal.
The retrospective will also include an augmented reality component, allowing visitors to explore The Gates virtually through an interactive map of Central Park. Additionally, the exhibition will showcase Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s ambitious, unrealised projects for New York, offering a glimpse into their creative process and deep connection to the city they called home since 1964.
“The legacy of The Gates is profound,” said Max Hodges, CEO of The Shed. “This exhibition invites audiences to reflect on its impact and find new meaning in today’s world.”
Curated by Pascal Roulin, who previously curated L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped in Tokyo, the exhibition promises to be an immersive celebration of the artists’ visionary spirit. As Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York, noted, “The Gates lifted our city’s spirits and economy during a critical time. It’s fitting to honour that legacy now.”
For those who experienced The Gates in person or from afar, this retrospective offers a chance to relive its magic—and for new audiences, an opportunity to discover the enduring power of public art.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude were a visionary artistic duo whose large-scale, temporary public art installations redefined the boundaries of contemporary art. Born on the same day, June 13, 1935—Christo in Bulgaria and Jeanne-Claude in Morocco—they met in Paris in 1958 and quickly became inseparable partners in both life and art. Their collaborative works, often monumental in scale and ephemeral in nature, transformed landscapes and urban spaces into breathtaking, otherworldly experiences.
Christo, trained in fine arts, began his career with smaller wrapped objects, exploring the idea of concealment and revelation. Jeanne-Claude, with her bold personality and organizational genius, brought a pragmatic yet daring approach to their projects. Together, they conceived and executed some of the most iconic works of the 20th and 21st centuries, including The Gates in New York’s Central Park (2005), Wrapped Reichstag in Berlin (1995), and The Floating Piers on Italy’s Lake Iseo (2016). Each project was self-funded through the sale of Christo’s preparatory drawings and models, ensuring their independence from commercial or institutional pressures.
Jeanne-Claude passed away in 2009, but Christo continued their shared vision until his death in 2020.
Top Photo: Charlotte Robinson © Artlyst 2025