Name: Heads. Times. History(ies). Michael Mathias Prechtl for his 100th Birthday
Start: 2026-09-20T16:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-20T17:30:00+02:00
Location: Stadtmuseum Amberg

Michael Mathias Prechtl at the Amberg City Museum: An exhibition full of lines, images, and depth of thought

With the special exhibition Heads. Times. History(ies). Michael Mathias Prechtl for his 100th Birthday, the Amberg City Museum dedicates itself to an artist who worked as a painter, draftsman, and illustrator far beyond his birthplace. The exhibition opens on April 26, 2026, and runs until January 10, 2027; it combines works from the purchased estate with rarely shown loans from private collections. ([stadtmuseum-amberg.de](https://www.stadtmuseum-amberg.de/de/aktuell/sonderausstellungen/koepfe.-zeiten.-geschichte-n-.-michael-mathias-prechtl-zum-100.-geburtstag))

A work between precision and poetry

Michael Mathias Prechtl, born in 1926 in Amberg and died in 2003, gained international recognition through multifaceted cover images for, among others, the New York Times and DER SPIEGEL. His images invite careful observation with allusions, fine visual quotes, and a dense composition. The exhibition places this visual language at the center and opens new perspectives on his work. ([stadtmuseum-amberg.de](https://www.stadtmuseum-amberg.de/de/aktuell/sonderausstellungen/koepfe.-zeiten.-geschichte-n-.-michael-mathias-prechtl-zum-100.-geburtstag))

Originals, estate works, and rarely shown pieces

Works from the artistic estate, which the city of Amberg acquired the previous year, will be on display, along with numerous loans that have not been publicly presented for a long time. Notable pieces include the large-format painting The Dream Toledo, a view of the Prunn Castle in the Altmühltal, and designs for the painting of the Nuremberg Town Hall’s assembly room. This combination makes the exhibition a rich examination of works between painting, drawing, illustration, and cultural-historical reflection. ([stadtmuseum-amberg.de](https://www.stadtmuseum-amberg.de/de/aktuell/sonderausstellungen/koepfe.-zeiten.-geschichte-n-.-michael-mathias-prechtl-zum-100.-geburtstag))

Participate, understand, observe closely

Several media and participation stations, a tactile model, texts in Easy Language, and offerings in German Sign Language accompany the presentation. This makes the exhibition a place for cultural education where seeing, reading, and understanding intertwine. Additionally, the museum refers to a permanent exhibition on Prechtl that deepens the life and work of the artist. ([stadtmuseum-amberg.de](https://www.stadtmuseum-amberg.de/de/aktuell/sonderausstellungen/koepfe.-zeiten.-geschichte-n-.-michael-mathias-prechtl-zum-100.-geburtstag))

Tours and supporting program

The accompanying program includes public tours, an art snack, lectures, and additional formats, including contributions to Prechtl's art in architecture, his reception of Dürer, and his role as a poster artist. For the public tour, the museum mentions a duration of about 60 minutes and a price of 9.50 euros including discounted museum admission. ([stadtmuseum-amberg.de](https://www.stadtmuseum-amberg.de/de/aktuell/sonderausstellungen/koepfe.-zeiten.-geschichte-n-.-michael-mathias-prechtl-zum-100.-geburtstag))

Those seeking art as a space for thought and experience will find a precisely curated encounter with a significant artist of the 20th century in this Amberg exhibition. The Amberg City Museum combines rarely shown works, historical contexts, and educational offerings into a demanding art experience that is definitely worth a visit. ([stadtmuseum-amberg.de](https://www.stadtmuseum-amberg.de/de/aktuell/sonderausstellungen/koepfe.-zeiten.-geschichte-n-.-michael-mathias-prechtl-zum-100.-geburtstag))