paris square to be named after christo and jeanne-claude on 40 years of pont neuf wrapped

there’s also an outdoor exhibition that will be set up on the banks of the river seine dedicated to the artists, which runs from september 6th to october 30th, 2025.

matthew burgos July 16, 2025 5 min

Paris celebrates christo and jeanne-claude’s public art

An iconic square in the heart of Paris is set to be named after Christo and Jeanne-Claude following the 40th anniversary of their fabric-wrapped Pont Neuf in September 2025. Alongside the naming of the square, whose specific place is yet to be identified and announced, there’s an outdoor exhibition that will be set up on the banks of the river Seine from September 6th to October 30th, 2025, a show dedicated to the artists’ works.

The artist JR also pays homage to the 40th anniversary of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s installation in Paris by unveiling the Projet Pont-Neuf, a public art wrapping the same bridge that the artists worked on with rock formations. Originally planned for the autumn of 2025, the project is now expected to be on view in the summer of 2026 (dates to be announced), making way for the celebratory projects in honor of Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

paris christo jeanne-claude — Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Pont Neuf Wrapped, Paris, 1975-85 | all images courtesy of Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation; photos by Wolfgang Volz, unless stated otherwise

Brief history of the pont neuf wrapped

In September 1985, Christo and Jeanne-Claude created a temporary public art project in Paris by wrapping the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in the city that connects both sides of the River Seine and passes over Île de la Cité, with gold-colored fabric. The immersive installation, which lasted for 14 days, had 41,800 square meters of woven polyamide fabric take over the bridge, covering the sides and arches under it, the sidewalks and curbs, the street lamps, the railings, and the area around the Vert-Galant park at the end of the island. The silky-looking fabric shone in golden sandstone, and to hold it in place, the artists used 13 kilometers of rope as well as 12.1 tons of steel chains, which were hidden underwater to secure the fabric to the bridge towers.

Significant public art project for the artists

Over 300 workers helped install the fabric to realize Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s public artwork in Paris, and the artists collaborated with French and American engineers for the installation, many of whom had worked with them before. The Pont Neuf is a historical bridge in the city, the oldest standing one, and over centuries, it has experienced changes, including having shops built on it (which were later removed) as well as a large water pump structure, which was built, torn down, rebuilt, and removed again.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s public artwork around this bridge in Paris is considered one of its transformational histories, allowing the visitors and passersby to see the shape and look of the architecture differently by making it look softer, brighter, smoother, and more alive. It was a significant moment for the artists considering that they didn’t use any sponsors and donations to realize the public artwork but instead paid for it themselves by selling their drawings, plans, and earlier artworks. In September 2025, Paris rightfully celebrates the 40th anniversary of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Pont Neuf wrapped.