Pécs’s cultural heritage is being enriched with a new, distinctive public art element: on 1 September 2026, Pécs City Day, the first sign of the Hommage à Vasarely ceramic street-name-sign programme will be unveiled. The official unveiling begins at 16:00 at 5 Káptalan Street, Pécs 7621, at the building of the Janus Pannonius Múzeum Directorate, on MuseumStreet. The initiative was launched by the Heritage Protection Fund of the Pécs Community Foundation as part of the Vasarely 2026 – Pécs jubilee season, marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the JPM Vasarely Múzeum in Pécs and the 120th anniversary of Victor Vasarely’s birth.
Vasarely in everyday city life
Victor Vasarely is one of Pécs’s most famous, internationally recognised native sons. His art, and the geometric, optical thinking it embodies, is closely tied to the city’s cultural heritage. The programme’s aim is for this legacy to be present not only within museum walls, but also as part of everyday life on the streets of Pécs. As a first step, ten unique, architectural-ceramic street-name signs inspired by Vasarely’s work are being created for public spaces and buildings across various districts of the city. The signs reinterpret the visual world of op art in a contemporary way, while remaining sensitive to the architectural and heritage context of each location. The signs are not intended to replace official street signage; rather, they stand as unique public artworks that add cultural and visual value to the cityscape.
A programme that extends beyond Vasarely
The longer-term goal of this newly launched initiative is for Pécs’s significant fine-art heritage to gradually find expression throughout the city’s streets as well. The programme is therefore not limited to Vasarely’s art alone: in future, the visual legacy of other artists connected to Pécs — including Ferenc Lantos, Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka, and others — may also appear on similar, unique street-name signs. The aim is to establish a continually expanding urban cultural route that offers both residents and visitors new ways to discover and experience the artistic heritage of Pécs.
A wide-ranging collaboration
The programme is the result of extensive collaboration within Pécs. Partners in its realisation include the Janus Pannonius Múzeum – Vasarely Múzeum, the Municipality of Pécs and its Department of Economic Development, BIOKOM Nkft., ceramic artist Sándor Dobány and his creative team, architect Péter Balázs, and the Heritage Protection Fund of the Pécs Community Foundation. The project was preceded by professional consultation and heritage-protection review. The heritage permit required for installing the first sign has been granted. The remaining signs are being produced and approved individually and on an ongoing basis, taking into account the specific characteristics and heritage considerations of each location. Community support is also a key part of realising the programme: the costs of producing and installing the ten signs are being raised through donations by the Heritage Protection Fund of the Pécs Community Foundation. We are now seeking the support of the people of Pécs to help the programme continue. The completion of the first sign marks an important milestone, but further donations are needed to realise the remaining signs.
Donations to the Heritage Protection Fund’s Vasarely Street-Name-Sign Programme can be made here: Heritage Protection Fund – Vasarely Street-Name-Sign Programme – PKA
The unveiling of the first sign therefore marks not only the birth of a new element of the cityscape, but also the beginning of a longer-term, community-driven heritage project.
Who is unveiling the first sign?
The official unveiling of the first sign will be attended by Attila Péterffy, Mayor of Pécs, Deputy Mayor Gábor Zag, and representatives of the professional and cultural organisations involved in the project. The initiators and partners of the programme will be available to the press on site, and short interviews can be arranged.
We look forward to welcoming you!
