Artist duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude developed 'The Gates' for New York City's Central Park in 1979, but the project faced over two decades of bureaucratic hurdles before finally being installed in 2005 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The work consisted of 7,503 steel gates with orange nylon fabric along 23 miles of pathways, using 5,390 tons of steel. Now, on its 20th anniversary, a comprehensive survey titled 'Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City' is being held at the Shed, accompanied by an augmented reality experience via the Bloomberg Connects app.
The anniversary matters because 'The Gates' remains one of the most iconic and ambitious public art installations in New York City's history, drawing millions of visitors and cementing Christo and Jeanne-Claude's legacy as masters of large-scale, temporary environmental art. The exhibition and AR experience not only celebrate the work's impact but also highlight the artists' broader practice of transforming urban landscapes, while the collaboration between the Shed, Central Park Conservancy, NYC Parks, and Bloomberg Philanthropies underscores ongoing institutional support for public art and innovative digital engagement.