When does the exhibition start?

The special exhibition starts on 27.05.2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Amberg City Museum.

How long does the exhibition run?

According to the official announcement, the exhibition is planned as a special exhibition until 10.01.2027.

How much is the admission fee?

The regular admission fee for the Amberg City Museum is 6 euros, reduced 5 euros. No different price is mentioned for the special exhibition.

Are there guided tours about the exhibition?

Yes, there are public tours, curator tours, group tours, as well as other educational offerings and lectures.

Is the museum barrier-free?

The exhibition rooms dedicated to Michael Mathias Prechtl and the special exhibition rooms are accessible by elevator. There are also offerings in easy language and German sign language.

What are the opening hours for visiting?

The Amberg City Museum is open from Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Heads. Times. History(ies)

Name: Heads. Times. History(ies). Michael Mathias Prechtl on his 100th Birthday
Start: 2026-05-27T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-05-27T13:00:00+02:00
Location: Stadtmuseum Amberg

Discover Michael Mathias Prechtl anew: an exhibition full of heads, stories, and visual power

On the occasion of the 100th birthday of the painter, draftsman, and illustrator Michael Mathias Prechtl, born in Amberg, the Amberg City Museum dedicates an impressive special exhibition to his art. Under the title Heads. Times. History(ies)., an art experience unfolds that combines artwork observation, art historical classification, and aesthetic experience.

A significant anniversary

Prechtl is among the notable artist personalities of the 20th century. He gained international recognition through cover images for publications such as the New York Times and DER SPIEGEL. His works exhibit a distinct blend of drawing, painting, printmaking, and symbolic imagery. This complexity makes the exhibition particularly exciting: it showcases an artist who works with allusions, changes in perspective, and precise observations.

Rare works, new perspectives

The exhibition displays works from the artistic estate that the city of Amberg was able to acquire in 2025, as well as loans from private collections. Many of these works have not been publicly accessible for a long time or have never been shown before. Among them is a large-format painting like The Dream Toledo, views with historical depth of field, and designs that make Prechtl's engagement with architecture, cityscape, and cultural memory visible.

Between intimacy and cosmopolitanism

The exhibition also opens a view into Prechtl's personal environment and hisImagery surrounding female figures, identity, and self-determination. This creates not just a showcase of works but also a cultural dialogue with contemporary issues. Prechtl emerges as an artist with contradictions: recognized and idiosyncratic, popular and reflective, locally rooted and internationally effective.

Communication, participation, observing closely

The educational concept is particularly convincing. Several media and participation stations invite visitors to explore motifs, techniques, and details intensely. A tactile model, texts in easy language, and offerings in German sign language expand accessibility and underscore the inclusive aim of the exhibition. Thus, art is not only viewed but experienced with all senses.

The exhibition in the context of the City Museum

The Amberg City Museum is known for its diverse collections and its engagement with the city's history. The Prechtl department is one of the museum's special focuses. Combined with the special exhibition, a cultural historical space is created where Amberg's history, art education, and artwork observation convincingly connect.

Conclusion: This special exhibition impressively demonstrates why Michael Mathias Prechtl is considered one of the significant artists of his generation. Those who want to understand his imagery should definitely experience the exhibition live at the Amberg City Museum: as an intense look at art, memory, and the power of exact observation.