Artist for the people
The only official museum dedicated to the artist Alphonse Mucha approved by the Mucha Foundation and endorsed by the Mucha family.
Who was
Mucha?
Alphonse Mucha was born in 1860 in the small Moravian town of Ivančice. He
rose to international fame in fin-de-siècle Paris with his elegant designs for
theatre posters for Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous French actress of the time.
In 1904, when Mucha visited the United States for the first time, he was hailed
as ‘the greatest decorative artist in the world’,becoming one of the
earliest artists to gain international acclaim in both Europe and America.
Mucha created a distinctive style – le style Mucha – characterised by
harmonious compositions, sinuous forms, organic lines and a muted palette. His
style evolved to be synonymous with the newly emerging decorative style of the
time – Art Nouveau. Mucha was a leading figure in this era-defining movement.
Mucha’s posters produced in Paris have always been his most popular works.
However, he was also an unusually versatile artist: a painter, sculptor,
photographer and designer in a wide range of media, as well as an inspiring art
teacher and philosopher. For Mucha, art was a language to express his ideals of
drawing people together to promote the progress and peace of humanity. Such a
philosophical vision is expressly manifested in his cycle of twenty monumental
historical paintings The Slav Epic (1912–1926).
In 1939 Germany invaded Czechoslovakia. As the national artist, Mucha was among
the first to be arrested and interrogated by the Nazis. Although he was allowed
to return home after questioning, his spirit was broken and he died on 14th July
1939. Despite the Nazis ordering that only his immediate family could attend,
over a hundred thousand Czechs turned up to his funeral – due testament to
Alphonse Mucha, artist of the people.
Today Mucha’s work is both well known and well loved. His graphic genius has
shaped our visual language and he continues to influence and inspire artists
from diverse movements and cultures, including Hollywood, tattoo art, Manga and
street art. More than a hundred and sixty years after his birth, Mucha’s art
continues to define the way we see the world.
The Mucha museum: Art nouveau and utopia
The Mucha family and the Mucha Foundation welcome you to the only official Mucha
Museum in the world showing the work of Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939), one of the
world's best-known Czech artists. We invite you to explore Mucha's works
both as a guiding spirit of Art Nouveau and also as a utopian thinker, whose
vision culminated in his late masterpiece, The Slav Epic (1912–1926).
We are delighted to share with you the story of one of the Czech Republic's best-loved cultural figures through a completely new selection of over eighty artworks from the Mucha Family Collection, including pieces that have never been shown in public before.
The exhibition is arranged into four thematic sections: Mucha & His Homeland, 'Le style Mucha' & Art Nouveau, Mucha the Visionary and The Slav Epic. On display are paintings, posters, drawings, books and photographs, along with immersive and digital projections. These combine to offer insights into Mucha's spiritual journey from his beginnings in Moravia; through to his breakthrough in Paris as a poster artist and Art Nouveau pioneer; and to his eventual achievement as a philosopher-artist, who crystalised his utopian vision in his monument for the Slavs, The Slav Epic.
The
new era
The new Mucha Museum is located in the beautiful Savarin Palace on Na Prikope
street in the centre of Prague. The Mucha Museum is the only museum in the world
endorsed by the Mucha Foundation and the Mucha family.
World-renowned architect Eva Jiricna has created an outstanding exhibition space
in one of the most important Baroque palaces in Prague, offering
Mucha’s legacy to a new generation of Czech and global visitors.
Since Mucha’s death in 1939, the Mucha family has cared for his artistic
heritage, establishing the Mucha Foundation in 1992 and presenting exhibitions
dedicated to his work throughout the world.
Alphonse Mucha’s son, Jiří Mucha brought Mucha scholarship to new audiences
by writing biographies and creating exhibition programmes. His grandson John
Mucha launched the Mucha Foundation which safeguards Mucha’s legacy for
generations to come. Now Marcus Mucha, the great grandson of Mucha, leads the
Mucha Foundation, producing critically acclaimed exhibitions around the world
and overseeing the opening of this new Mucha Museum in the heart of Prague.
Savarin
Palace
The Savarin Palace in Prague is undergoing a major reconstruction aimed at
restoring its historical significance. Situated between Wenceslas Square and
Jindřišská Street, this renovation will breathe new life into the area while
preserving the palace’s architectural heritage. The project blends the
conservation of historical elements with modern architectural interventions,
creating a space that reflects both the past and the future of this iconic site.
The restoration will also include publicly accessible gardens, providing a
peaceful haven in the heart of the city.
Buy
a ticket
Prices
- Adults: 300 CZK
- Seniors (65+): 250 CZK
- Students: 250 CZK
- Children 0–10 years: enter for free (also receive an educational material as a gift)
