When does the exhibition take place?

The special exhibition runs from April 26, 2026, to January 10, 2027.

Where can the exhibition be seen?

At the Amberg City Museum, Zeughausstraße 18, 92224 Amberg.

How much is the entry fee?

The entry fee for this event is free. The Amberg City Museum has separate regular museum prices.

Are there guided tours?

Yes, public tours, short tours, curator offerings, and inclusive mediation formats are part of the program.

Is the museum barrier-free?

The special exhibition rooms are accessible via an elevator. The museum also offers barrier-free and inclusive mediation offers.

Is the exhibition suitable for families and children?

Yes, the accompanying program includes offers for children and young people, such as creative workshops and holiday programs.

Prechtl's Imagery Shines in Amberg: An Exhibition Full of History and Wit

Name: Heads. Times. Stories. Michael Mathias Prechtl on his 100th Birthday
Start: 2026-04-26T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2027-01-10T01:00:00+01:00
Location: Stadtmuseum Amberg

Heads, Times, Stories: Michael Mathias Prechtl at the Amberg City Museum

The special exhibition Heads. Times. Stories. pays tribute to one of the most significant sons of the city: Michael Mathias Prechtl, born in 1926 in Amberg, painter, draftsman, and illustrator of international renown. The exhibition opens on April 26, 2026, the 100th birthday of the artist, and runs until January 10, 2027, showcasing a body of work characterized by precise observation, historical allusion, and witty imagery.

An art experience between memory and present

The exhibition brings together works from the acquired artistic estate of the city of Amberg as well as loans from private collections, including pieces that have not been publicly viewed for a long time. The focus is on large-format paintings, drawings, and designs that make Prechtl's range between painting, graphics, and illustration visible. His cover images for the New York Times and DER SPIEGEL have made him widely known; at the same time, his art remains deeply rooted in the pictorial tradition of Dürer and European cultural history.

Work examination with depth of field

Prechtl's images invite careful observation. They combine old-master precision with satirical sharpness, intellectual composition, and a often sharply contoured, sometimes ironic view of history and politics. Highlights of the exhibition include the large-format painting The Dream of Toledo, scenes from the Altmühltal, personal anniversary paintings, and designs for the decoration of the Nuremberg Town Hall. This creates an exhibition that compellingly intertwines work, biography, and art historical context.

Amberg, Nuremberg, and the vast imagery of Prechtl

The tour also opens up views on Prechtl's life stations: Amberg as his place of origin, Nuremberg as a significant sphere of activity, as well as travels to Paris, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. His proximity to Albrecht Dürer, his engagement with historical figures, and his fine sense for visual quotations give his oeuvre a distinctive position in the art of the 20th century. The exhibition complements the permanent exhibition A Tribute to Michael Mathias Prechtl and places it in new contexts.

Education, tours, and cultural education

A diverse supporting program accompanies the exhibition. Public tours, curator offerings, short tours with work examinations, lectures, and inclusive formats like phone tours expand the art experience with museum pedagogical perspectives. Programs for children and young people are also planned; they address topics such as printmaking, motif search, nature printing, and visual design. This transforms the exhibition into a place of cultural education, where aesthetic experience and profound work mediation come together.

Space, atmosphere, and visitor experience

The Amberg City Museum provides a compelling framework for this special exhibition with its historic building and clear museum structure. The presentation benefits from an atmosphere where history, spatial impact, and concentrated work observation converge. Barrier-free access, elevators to the special exhibition rooms, and inclusively designed offerings facilitate the visit and emphasize the public educational mandate of the house.

Conclusion: This exhibition is an impressive invitation to rediscover Michael Mathias Prechtl. Those who appreciate art historical depth, drawing precision, and clever imagery will experience an exhibition with lasting impact here. A visit to the Amberg City Museum is definitely worthwhile – for the eyes, the mind, and the art-interested heart.