Art lovers have plenty of reasons to visit Prague in the coming months. At U Bílého Jednorožce, a carefully restored Renaissance palace on Old Town Square, the exhibition Andy Warhol – I’m OK runs through the end of 2014. The show features album covers and packaging designed by Warhol between 1949 and 1987 alongside iconic works such as Mao, Flowers and Marilyn Monroe. Also on display is Warhol’s famous banana album cover for The Velvet Underground’s debut. An interactive workshop lets visitors experiment with screen-printing techniques inspired by the artist’s practice.
At the city’s Municipal House — a landmark closely linked to Bohemian civic life — the focus is on Czech and European Art Nouveau, drawing from the collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague. The Municipal House itself is an outstanding example of Art Nouveau architecture and remains one of the city’s most impressive buildings from that period. Additional fine examples of the style can be seen nearby along Národní třída (National Avenue), Na Příkopě and around Wenceslas Square. This exhibition runs through December 31, 2015.
Both exhibitions offer complementary perspectives on 20th-century visual culture: Warhol’s pop art and mass-media commentary on one hand, and the decorative, craft-focused artistry of Art Nouveau on the other. Together they provide a rich cultural itinerary for visitors interested in design, printmaking and architectural heritage.