Is admission to the exhibition free?

Yes, admission to the ALTE FEUERWACHE city gallery is free.

When is the city gallery open?

Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Mondays.

Are there guided tours of the exhibition?

Yes, the exhibition offers public tours, as well as group tours and offerings with German sign language.

Is the exhibition accessible for people with disabilities?

There are offerings in German sign language, easy language, and a tactile model. However, the historical building complex has limited accessibility.

Is photography allowed in the exhibition?

Photos without flash are permitted in the museum. Different rules may apply for special exhibitions.

How do you get into the city gallery?

Access is generally through the Amberg city museum at Zeughausstraße 18.

Heads. Times. History(ies)

Name: Heads. Times. History(ies). Michael Mathias Prechtl on the 100th Birthday
Start: 2026-11-24T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-24T18:00:00+01:00
Location: Stadtgalerie ALTE FEUERWACHE

Michael Mathias Prechtl in Amberg: An exhibition between pictorial wit, scholarly knowledge, and precise observation

The special exhibition at the ALTE FEUERWACHE city gallery invites a viewing of the work that makes Michael Mathias Prechtl one of the most idiosyncratic picture storytellers of German post-war art. The painter, draftsman, and illustrator born in Amberg would have celebrated his 100th birthday in 2026; the museum takes this anniversary as an opportunity to present his work from new perspectives.

An artist who transforms stories into images

Prechtl gained international fame through cover illustrations for the New York Times and DER SPIEGEL. His works combine drawing art, painting, and illustration into a multilayered visual language that oscillates between irony, historical allusion, and precise observation. This blend of lightness and scholarly knowledge distinctly shapes the exhibition and makes it appealing to art-history-interested visitors.

Works, loans, and new contexts

Displayed are works from the estate acquired the previous year and held at the city museum, as well as numerous loans from private collections, some of which have not been shown publicly for a long time or ever. The spectrum ranges from large-scale paintings to designs and graphic works. Particularly exciting is the juxtaposition with the permanent exhibition, which has already laid the foundation for Prechtl's life and work and is now reaccentuated by the special exhibition.

Visual language, identity, and art-historical references

The curation focuses on Prechtl's visual language, his representation of women, personal relationships, and the artistic tensions between recognition and resistance. At the same time, references to Dürer, Otto Dix, and Giuseppe Arcimboldo become visible. This creates an art experience that offers not only aesthetic experience but also cultural education in the best sense.

Get involved, look closely, understand

Several media and participation stations invite visitors to examine works closely. A tactile model and offers in easy language and German sign language enhance accessibility. For schools and kindergartens, there are museum education formats that make visual language, symbolism, and art-historical models comprehensible.

The ALTE FEUERWACHE city gallery as a place of contemporary art

The city gallery is a municipal exhibition space with about 170 square meters and focuses on contemporary art from East Bavaria. Painting, graphics, sculpture, object, photography, new media, and installation create a diverse profile here. Admission is free, and access is primarily through the city museum.

Conclusion

This exhibition promises a clever, sensually rich view of Michael Mathias Prechtl and his art between literary allusion, drawing precision, and cultural depth. Anyone who wants to not only see art but read, interpret, and rediscover it should definitely experience this stop in Amberg live.