In 2026, Pécs proudly celebrates the 50th anniversary of the JPM Vasarely Museum and the 120th anniversary of Victor Vasarely’s birth. It has been half a century since the “art of the future” found a home in our city—and what’s more, the museum in Pécs was established at the same time as the Vasarely Institute in France, a fact of unparalleled significance in Hungarian cultural history. The renovated museum continues to embody this openness and creative spirit, which makes Pécs one of the defining centres of contemporary culture.
The internationally renowned master, born in Pécs, was one of the greatest innovators of 20th-century visual art, the father of Op Art and kinetic art. He saw that the future of art lay in collective creativity: he stepped out of the exhibition spaces and influenced fashion, architecture, design, and pop culture as well. He created a universal visual language that everyone can experience, and opened the door to digital art.
The “Vasarely2026 – Pécs” season invites you with rotating exhibitions and a rich program. Let’s discover this legacy together and take pride in the fact that it all began in Pécs.
The Vasarely Year is being realized under the professional leadership of the Janus Pannonius Museum, in collaboration with the University of Pécs, the city’s cultural institutions, and the local creative industry, connecting art, science, design, and Pécs’s cultural, tourism, and economic networks.
Test your perception and creativity in the interactive educational space of the JPM Vasarely Museum!
Discover the secrets behind the artist’s iconic visual elements – either on your own – and create your own unique versions!
Step into Vasarely’s playful universe!
Registration:
Katalin VADVÁRI, museum educator
E-mail: vadvari.katalin@gmail.com | Phone: +36 30 298 2771
Please indicate your intention to visit at least one week in advance.
Groups larger than 24 people will be accommodated in smaller subgroups.
The guided tour fee is determined individually, and the exact amount will be communicated by our contact person.
The guided tour fee does not include the admission ticket; it must be purchased separately.
We also offer museum education programmes related to our exhibition.
During our museum’s education workshops, we explore Vasarely’s life and work through interactive activities. The program can be tailored to individual needs based on age and interests.
The focus of the workshop can be chosen from the following topics:
At the end of the session, participants will create artwork related to the chosen theme.
Duration: 90 minutes
Location: JPM Vasarely Museum
Fee: admission ticket + 800 HUF/person
Related subjects: art and visual culture, mathematics, biology, physics
Minimum number of participants: 10
Registration:
Katalin VADVÁRI, museum educator
E-mail: vadvari.katalin@gmail.com | Phone: +36 30 298 2771
Victor Vasarely (1906–1997) was one of the most influential figures of 20th-century art and the internationally recognised pioneer of Op Art, or optical art. He was born in Pécs and began his studies in Budapest, where modern movements and the spirit of the Bauhaus shaped his vision. From the 1930s onward, he lived and worked in France, where he developed a unique visual language.
At the core of his art lie questions of vision and perception. Through geometric forms, contrasting colours, and carefully constructed systems, he created a visual world that generates the illusion of movement and spatial depth on a flat surface. His works not only offer an aesthetic experience but also invite active engagement, as the viewer becomes part of the artwork through their own perception.
Vasarely sought to move art beyond its traditional boundaries and make it accessible to a wider public. He believed that art should be present in everyday life, and his work has had a lasting impact on design, architecture, and many fields of visual culture.
His legacy remains vibrant and relevant today: his works can be seen as precursors to the visual thinking of the digital age and continue to inspire artists, designers, and researchers around the world.
Located in Káptalan Street, Pécs, the JPM Vasarely Museum has been a leading centre for Hungarian and international geometric abstraction for 50 years, ever since its opening in 1976. One of the most visited exhibitions at the Janus Pannonius Museum is based on Victor Vasarely’s generous donations and, uniquely, showcases not only his own works but also an international collection of 20th-century abstract art.
What makes the museum unique is that it is Hungary’s first permanent public collection exhibition dedicated entirely to geometric abstraction, thereby playing a pioneering role in the country’s cultural history. Its creation became a symbol of openness toward Western art movements. The renewed exhibition for the 2026 anniversary pays tribute to the artist, who was born 120 years ago, and once again showcases the outstanding pieces of the international collection.
The year 2026 offers us the opportunity to celebrate a triple anniversary: the 120th anniversary of Victor Vasarely’s birth (Pécs, April 9, 1906), the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Fondation Vasarely’s architectural centre in Aix-en-Provence (February 14, 1976), and the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Vasarely Museum in Pécs (June 4, 1976).
These special occasions will be accompanied by numerous initiatives and events—exhibitions, concerts, conferences, gatherings, light projections, theatrical programs, and much more—in both Aix-en-Provence and Pécs, two places particularly dear to Victor Vasarely’s heart, which have been maintaining a twinning relationship since 2011.
These programs will once again shine a spotlight on the work of my grandfather and my grandmother, Claire, while also reminding us of the profoundly generous, humanistic, and forward-looking spirit that permeated the artistic endeavours of the father of Op Art. The collaboration between the Vasarely Museum in Pécs and the Fondation Vasarely is key to the success of this joint endeavour.
In addition to political, cultural, academic, community, and scientific institutions (the City of Pécs, Pécs 2010 European Capital of Culture, Vasarely Museum, Leőwey Klára Secondary School, Janus Pannonius Secondary School, Baranya County Chamber of Architects, University of Pécs, the pétanque association, as well as painting and photography associations, and many others)—I would like to personally thank all those who have become my friends over the years and have accompanied me on this journey from the very beginning.
Ági, Andrea, András, Árpád, Attila, Catherine, Emese, Enikő, Eszter, Éva, Ferenc, Gabi, Gábor, István, János, Józsi, Károly, Kata, Katalin, Kati, Laurent, Márta, Miklós, Misi, Péter, Susi, Szilvi, Tamás, Tünde, Vali, Zoli, Zsolt, as well as many other figures in Pécs—who know who they are—know that without them, so many joint initiatives between these two beautiful cities could never have come to fruition.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Attila Péterffy, who is dedicated to preserving the memory and legacy of Victor Vasarely.
Finally, allow me to share this personally: Téo, Ugo, and Caroline Vasarely—just like myself—are deeply moved and honoured that Pécs is celebrating the 120th anniversary of Győző Vásárhelyi’s birth with such attention and respect.
As Victor Vasarely’s only grandchild, it is particularly moving for me to see that his hometown continues to cherish his memory and bring his artistic legacy to life.
Pierre Vasarely, Aix-en-Provence, March 15, 2026
Vasarely Year is being organized under the professional leadership of the Janus Pannonius Museum, in collaboration with the University of Pécs, the city’s cultural institutions, and the local creative industry, bringing together art, science, design, and Pécs’s cultural, tourism, and economic networks. One of Pécs’s greatest world-renowned brands is now awaiting renewal—and we are looking for partners to help us achieve this. Partners who believe that collaborating with us will enhance both the city and their own value. Now is the moment when we can write the next 50 years together—one of Pécs’s greatest cultural stories.
Join the VASARELY 50 anniversary year; let’s reinterpret Vasarely’s legacy together as a community, creating collaboratively!
Application:
Janus Pannonius Museum – Vasarely 50 Project Coordination
Emese Iványi | vasarelyev@jpm.hu
