Christo (actually Christo Wladimirow Jawaschew) is a Bulgarian object- and action artist who is often ascribed to 'Nouveau Réalisme', with his highly aesthetic "Wrappings" and ambitious Land-Art projects he achieved world-wide fame. Most of the time he worked together with his partner Jeanne-Claude, who died in 2009.
The "Wrappings" by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, such as the "Wrapped Coast" (Little Bay/Australia, 1969), the "Wrapped Roman City Wall" (Rome, 1973-1974) or the "Wrapped Reichstag" (Berlin, 1995) always attracted great public attention. Among the Land-Art projects of Christo and Jeanne-Claude "The Umbrellas" (1991) are particularly worthwhile mentioning: In Japan and California some 3.100 yellow and blue umbrellas were simultaneously erected.
The art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude is genuinely temporary and tied to a certain place. Photographs, preparatory sketches, collages and films are the only remaining documents and popular collector items, as they have been the focal point of many international exhibitions.