Christo Vladimirov Javacheff (Gabrovo 1935-New York 2020)

Christo was a Bulgarian-born artist, considered one of the leading representatives of land art and known for his large-scale works. He studied at the Sofia Academy of Fine Arts from 1952 to 1956. Early works signed "Christo" include abstract paintings and packaged objects such as bottles, bins, cardboard boxes and tables. In 1958 he moved to Paris, where he met Jeanne Claude de Guillebon, who became his life partner and his right-hand man in art. Together, they formed an artistic and romantic pair: Christo was the creative and design mind, while Jeanne Claude was the organizer and practical implementer of his sketches. The central concept of their works was to temporarily intervene in famous landscapes and buildings, altering their enjoyment for a limited period. After the death of both artists, a posthumous work was completed in 2021, which consisted of wrapping the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, thus fulfilling a long cherished wish of the couple.