Gagosian London unveils Christo's lost 'Air Package on a Ceiling'

Gagosian London has reconstructed 'Air Package on a Ceiling', a 1968 Christo work never before realized. The installation, measuring 16 by 10 meters, hangs from the gallery ceiling at visitor height. Originally conceived for the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, it was abandoned due to technical constraints. The maquette and drawings were discovered in 2018 by studio manager Lorenza Giovanelli while reorganizing Christo's New York studio, hidden under a pedestal. The project remained unknown until Christo's death in 2020. The reconstruction was executed in collaboration with the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation. The work is part of Christo's legacy of monumental, temporary interventions funded by preparatory works. Other notable projects include 'Valley Curtain' (1970-1972) in Colorado and 'Pont Neuf Wrapped' (1985) in Paris. A posthumous work, 'L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped', was realized in 2021.