ChristoGaleria Joan Prats - Beach Umbrella Sketch1986
1986
About the Item
Christo
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Winterswijk, Netherlands
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Donald Baechler - "Flower" - unique piece - edition: 35/98By Donald BaechlerLocated in Winterswijk, NLDonald Baechler - "Flower". Color screen printing and collage. Signed and Numbered. Unique edition 35/98 About Donald Baechler: *1956 in Hartford, Connecticut (USA). Studied ...Category
Late 20th Century Contemporary Prints and Multiples
MaterialsMixed Media, Screen
- LoveBy Yves LaloyLocated in Winterswijk, NLGeometric composition in blue colors - centered in the shape of a heart blue-eyed abstract figure that evokes joy and calmness. Color sc...Category
1970s Prints and Multiples
MaterialsScreen, Color
- New Glory BannerBy Robert IndianaLocated in Winterswijk, NLLimited Edition print from "The American Dream" Series Pop Art Serigraph Published in 1963 by Multiples, Inc. as a felt banner Robert Indiana New Glory Banner...Category
1990s Pop Art More Prints
MaterialsScreen
- Even with childLocated in Winterswijk, NLFigure painting presenting a blended figure of mother and child. Sketchy and smooth silhouettes with precise visible faces are placed on a deep and intense red background. The though...Category
Early 20th Century Prints and Multiples
MaterialsGiclée, Canvas
- The beggarLocated in Winterswijk, NLHand signed and numbered Edition: 100 In great conditionCategory
Late 20th Century Prints and Multiples
MaterialsLithograph
- Neil YoungLocated in Winterswijk, NLGiclée on Hahnemühle Velvet 2021 Hand signed, numbered on verso, additionally signed in print Edition: 25 Publisher: Galerie-F Edition In great conditionCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Prints and Multiples
MaterialsGiclée, Canvas
- Birdcage by Jonas WoodBy Jonas WoodLocated in Morton Grove, ILRare Jonas Wood print! etching 2014 paper size- 15.75 x 13.75 frame size- 18.75 x 16.75 x 1.5" signed and dated SP2 *two small pinholes in the upper ...Category
2010s Contemporary Still-life Prints
MaterialsEtching
- Young Hearts, Portland Gallery London offset lithographBy Jack VettrianoLocated in Hillsborough, NCJack Vettriano (1951-) is renowned for his film noir oil paintings and 1930s glam style. Uniquely Vettriano, ‘Young Hearts’ is set by the seaside inviting narratives about the figures in his work: relationships, anticipation, power and suggestion. Vettriano grew up by the Fife Scottish coast. He began painting beach scenes as a young adult, later developing his particular recognizable style and thematic imagery. His work was embraced by celebrities such as Madonna and Jack Nicholson and he has become hugely successful. His most famous painting, ‘The Singing Butler...Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph, Offset
- Esso Extra Motor OilBy Heiner MeyerLocated in West Hollywood, CAHeiner Meyer "Esso Extra Motor Oil," 2016 Screenprint 27 1/2 x 19 1/2 inches Numbered from the edition of 60 on verso Signed by the artist on verso lower rightCategory
2010s Prints and Multiples
MaterialsScreen
- Looking West, Abstract Silkscreen by Paul Jenkins c1969By Paul JenkinsLocated in Long Island City, NYArtist: Paul Jenkins, American (1923 - 2012) Title: Looking West Year: circa 1969 Medium: Silkscreen, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 45/200 Image Size: 39 x 29 inches Size: 4...Category
1960s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Prints
MaterialsScreen
- Christina et sa poupée, 1985, original lithograph by Jean Jansem handsignedBy Jean JansemLocated in Carouge GE, GEJean Jansem (1920-2013) Christina et sa poupée, 1985 Lithographie sur papier Arches Signée et justifiée 76 x 54 cm Imprimeur: Mourlot, Paris Editeur Sanbi, Tokyo Bibliographie: Jan...Category
Late 20th Century Expressionist Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Pèlerin au cierge, 1986, original lithograph by Jean Jansem, signed and numberedBy Jean JansemLocated in Carouge GE, GEJean Jansem (1920-2013) Pélerin au cierge, 1986 Lithographie sur papier Japon, justifiée XIV / XXX Signée en bas à droite 67 x 51 cm / 76 x 54 cm Bibliographie: CR Jansem, 1993, n...Category
Late 20th Century Expressionist Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph