site.btaMajor Exhibition Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin to Be Presented for First Time in Bulgaria

The large-scale exhibition Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin (1971–1995) will be presented for the first time in Bulgaria at Kvadrat 500. Dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of the iconic artistic duo, the exhibition will open on November 4 and run through March 22, 2026, the National Gallery, organizer of the event, announced on Tuesday.

The exhibition marks the 30th anniversary of the Wrapped Reichstag project in Berlin and the 40th anniversary of The Pont Neuf Wrapped in Paris. Curator of the exhibition is Gergana Mihova.

Among the exhibits is the National Gallery’s first original acquisition related to Christo’s work: Wrapped Reichstag (Project for Berlin, 1971–1995) from 1986, a preparatory drawing for the monumental public art installation, a collage in two parts in pencil, fabric, pastel, wax crayon, thread, and architectural design on paper. Collages, photographs, video materials, and archival documents that trace the long journey toward the realization of this extraordinary project will also be exhibited at the gallery.

The gallery notes that it took a full 24 years to bring the Wrapped Reichstag project to life. During that time, Christo and Jeanne-Claude completed eight other major projects, all of which are also featured in the exhibition: The Gates, Central Park, New York City (1979–2005); The Umbrellas, Japan and USA (1984–1991); The Pont Neuf Wrapped, Paris (1975–1985); Surrounded Islands, Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida (1980–1983); Wrapped Walk Ways, Jacob Loose Memorial Park, Kansas City, Missouri (1977–1978); Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California (1972–1976); Ocean Front, Newport, Rhode Island (1974); The Wall – Wrapped Roman Wall, Via Veneto and Villa Borghese, Rome, Italy (1973–1974); Valley Curtain, Rifle, Colorado (1970–1972).

Archival footage, photographs, and documents from the wrapping of the Reichstag, the emblematic building that remains a symbol of democracy to this day, serve as a unique historical narrative of the project, the National Gallery said.

The event is organized in collaboration with the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, and in partnership with the French Institute in Bulgaria and the Goethe-Institut Bulgaria. The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is a media partner.