NEW YORK, NY.- The Shed will open a comprehensive, multiplatform celebratory retrospective of The Gates, the February 2005 public art installation in New York City’s Central Park by renowned artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The retrospective will mark the 20th anniversary of The Gates.


Own a piece of art history: Witness the evolution of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's iconic "The Gates" project in this beautifully designed book. Click here to get your copy and delve into the creation of this breathtaking installation.


Credited with revolutionizing New York City’s relationship with participatory and community- based art and igniting dialogue about the importance of public art globally, The Gates captured the imagination of millions and helped revive a city that had been transformed by the tragedy of 9/11 four years earlier. Twenty-six years in the making, The Gates was on display for sixteen days in 2005. The work of art attracted over four million visitors to the Park and generated an estimated $254 million in economic activity across New York City.

“Even after 20 years, the unforgettable visual memory of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s The Gates is still in the minds of the many people who experienced it in person or viewed it from afar,” said Vladimir Yavachev, Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s director of projects. “The Gates was responsible for sparking an important conversation about public art and its role in urban settings and society. We are thrilled to be marking this anniversary by celebrating Christo and Jeanne- Claude with a surprising exhibit at The Shed, which includes unrealized New York projects, and a revolutionary AR experience in Central Park through Bloomberg Connects, which achieves the highest levels of technical complexity and realism.”

The Gates was a monumental work of temporary public art consisting of 7,503 saffron-colored gates adorned with free-flowing fabric that spanned 23 miles of pathways and transformed the iconic park. The individual gates were 16 feet tall and varied in width from 5 feet 6 inches to 18 feet depending on the different widths of the park’s walkways. The vertical poles were secured by narrow steel base footings, 613 to 837 pounds each, positioned on top of the paved surfaces. Free hanging saffron-colored fabric panels, suspended from the horizontal top part of the gates, came down to approximately 7 feet above the ground. The gates were spaced at 12-foot intervals.

“Christo and Jeanne-Claude first proposed The Gates for Central Park in the 1970s, but the powers that be blocked it. After being elected mayor of New York just weeks after the 9/11 attacks, we worked closely with them to bring their vision to life. Millions of New Yorkers and visitors shared in the incredible experience of walking through a transformed landscape, just as the artists had imagined,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, 108th mayor of New York City and founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Now Bloomberg Philanthropies is glad to help bring the spirit of their unforgettable work back to life – and celebrate the boldness and creativity that lifted our city’s spirits and economy as we recovered from our darkest day.”

EXHIBITION AT THE SHED

Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City
February 12 - March 23, 2025

The Shed will host a free exhibition titled Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City, containing pieces related to the original project of The Gates, selections of proposed large-scale works by the artists that never came to fruition, and an interactive augmented reality component to experience.

The Gates exhibition will include original artworks by Christo, such as drawings, scale models, and components from the 2005 Central Park installation, alongside an immersive combination of photographs and videos. An interactive, tabletop map of Central Park created by Dirt Empire and Pixels Pixels will facilitate an augmented reality exploration of The Gates. These elements will guide visitors through the 25-year journey of negotiations and planning that culminated in the realization of the final project.

Unrealized Projects for New York City will showcase a selection of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s visionary proposals for New York City that, though never realized, reveal the duo’s ambitious and innovative spirit and their deep connection to the city they called home since 1964. For the first time in the United States, these works will be presented through Christo’s drawings and scale models, and projections will offer a glimpse into the creative processes behind their large- scale public art projects.

“The Shed is a leader in innovative art and ideas and is proud to partner on this incredible look at Christo and Jeanne-Claude and their signature contributions to public art,” said Max Hodges, CEO of The Shed. “The legacy of The Gates is profound, having inspired many public art projects that followed. This exhibition allows audiences who may not be familiar to reflect on the work and find meaning for it in today’s world. This exhibition will create a rich media experience as well as an in-depth narrative around the artistic legacy of Christo and Jeanne- Claude and the grand scope of what originally went into bringing The Gates to life.”

The exhibit at The Shed is being curated by Pascal Roulin, celebrated for his 2022 curation of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped at 21_21 Design Sight in Tokyo (June 13, 2022 - February 12, 2023). This exhibition promises a unique, enveloping experience, which will bring the spirit and vision of Christo and Jeanne-Claude to life, offering visitors an unprecedented opportunity to explore the couple’s artistic journey, rekindling memories for those who witnessed The Gates and unveiling hidden stories for new audiences.


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