Christo in his studio working on a preparatory drawing for The Gates - New York City, December 30, 2004 — Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 2004 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Now, two decades later, the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Central Park Conservancy, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and The Shed, is presenting a retrospective and a new 'gates experience' merging art, memory, and technology. The original installation of 7,503 gates, with their distinctive saffron-coloured hanging textiles that swayed in the wind, will be commemorated through exhibitions and digital storytelling applications, allowing visitors to re-imagine that seminal moment in Central Park and reflect on the work of one of the most groundbreaking public artist teams in recent history. The exhibition, which will run from 12 February to 25 March, 2025 at The Shed, the city's recently established and highly innovative cultural venue, will feature the drawings, studies and models that brought the project to life, as well as some of the couple's unrealised works for sites around New York, such as the city's waterways and urban landmarks, which will be shown for the first time in the United States.
Christo - The Gates (Project for Central Park, New York City) Drawing 2004 in two parts Pencil, charcoal, pastel, wax crayon, technical drawing, map, photograph by Wolfgang Volz, fabric sample, and kraft paper 38 x 244 cm and 106.6 x 244 cm (15 x 96 in and 42 x 96 in) — Property of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation . Part of The Gates Documentation Exhibition Photo: André Grossmann © 2004 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo and Jeanne-Claude worked at the intersection of art, architecture and civic life with installations that challenged the public's perception of permanence and redefined the spatial experience - from wrapping the Reichstag in Berlin to creating floating piers in Italy. The Gates was finally realised in the wake of 9/11, and was arguably the most poignant of their interventions. The work transformed Central Park into a shared art space; it fostered interaction and reflection, underscoring the power of art to inspire and unite.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude - The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005 — Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
For those unable to attend the 2005 event, a new augmented reality (AR) experience will let the public connect with The Gates virtually, projecting the work into the future and perpetuating Christo and Jeanne-Claude's legacy of challenging notions associated with public art and urban identity. Developed by Dirt Empire and Superbright for Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Bloomberg Connects app will help park visitors visualise The Gates where they once stood and engage with the stories and information surrounding the project.
Early image of "The Gates: An Augmented Reality Experience" in Central Park to be available through the Bloomberg Connects app in February 2025 - © 2025 Joe Pugliese and Dirt Empire
Christo and Jeanne-Claude - The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005 — Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo and Jeanne-Claude - The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005 — Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo and Jeanne-Claude - The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005 — Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo and Jeanne-Claude - The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005 — Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo - The Gates (Project for 11,000 Gates in Central Park, New York City) Collage 1980 Pencil, charcoal, pastel, wax crayon, fabric, and photograph by Wolfgang Volz 71 x 56 cm (28 x 22 in) — Property of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation . Part of The Gates Documentation Exhibition Photo: André Grossmann © 1980 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
