Christo et Jeanne-Claude (1935-2020 et 1935-2009)

Partly in tribute to Christo who passed away in May, the streaming service made eight little-known documentaries on the duo available online last week. The films, many made by Albert and David Maysles, provide a behind-the-scenes and detailed look at how several iconic landmark installations were realised.

Uruguayan coastal town Punta del Erste opened the country’s first permanent contemporary art museum, the Atchugarry Museum of Contemporary Art, on January 8. The museum’s first exhibitions explore the works of Christo and Jeanne-Claude and Argentine artist León Ferrari.

Based in Saint-Germain-des-Prés for 15 years, and in Miami since 2019, the gallery owner on Rue Mazarine is opening a new space in the Marais with an exhibition of works by François Bard, on view until October 16.

It is estimated that 6 million saw the posthumous work of Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude. Of those, 3.2M spent several hours there, while 1.1M went specifically with the intention of seeing the famous monument wrapped in around 270,000 sq-ft of recycled plastic. Of the 1.1M, 30% were internationals.

As a tribute to the recently deceased master of land art, this composition has reemerged: one of a series of works created as a prelude to his monumental happening.

The 13th edition of the fair opened on Saturday, offering artists from 71 countries the chance to showcase their work. On display is Michelangelo Pistoletto, who will receive an award recognizing his life’s contribution to design. Past winners include Vivienne Westwood, David Hockney and Christo & Jeanne Claude.

A landscape with willows painted shortly after the master moved to Giverny is shortly coming up at auction. The painting with its iridescent light has not been seen in public since 1948.

Free-spirited, headstrong Jeanne Tachard ranks among the 1920s’ leading patrons. She commissioned works from French cabinetmaker and designer Pierre Legrain and was a pioneering collector of African art.

Christo known around the world for his monumental, public art has died at 84. Together with his wife, Jean-Claude, the duo transformed landscapes through their ephemeral art. His project to wrap the Arc de Triomphe, initially proposed in 1962, scheduled for September 2021 "is still on track" according to his studio.  

Nearly 270,000 sq ft of silver fabric and 2 miles of red rope: the Arc de Triomphe, wrapped by the Charpentiers de Paris, stands as a farewell to Christo who died last year. On view from September 18 to October 3, this technical feat will allow us to see the force of the winds that sweep the building,