2 July 2026

Albertina at 250: Why a Giant Pink Hare Returns to Vienna

Albertina Director General Ralph Gleis with Ottmar Hörl's giant pink Dürer hare on the museum roof in Vienna.

Quick Read

• A giant pink hare on the Albertina roof has become an unofficial sign that a Dürer anniversary or museum milestone is being celebrated.
• This year it marks the museum's 250th anniversary with free admission on 4–5 July.
• Visitors can see major exhibitions, take part in around 250 activities and test a new AI-powered museum guide.
• The anniversary connects the Albertina's centuries-old paper collection with new ways of experiencing art.

The return of Ottmar Hörl's oversized pink interpretation of Albrecht Dürer's famous Young Hare has become something of a Vienna tradition. Whenever the monumental sculpture appears on or around the Albertina, it usually signals a special occasion linked to Dürer or the museum itself. This time, the 3.7-metre-long hare, lifted onto the museum's iconic Soravia Wing by crane, celebrates the Albertina's 250th anniversary and opens a weekend of free admission and public events on 4 and 5 July.

250 years of collecting art

The Albertina traces its origins to 1776, when Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen began assembling a collection of drawings and prints. The museum later inherited both his name and his collection. Today, it is internationally known for one of the world's largest graphic art collections, preserving more than one million prints and around 50,000 drawings, including celebrated works by Albrecht Dürer, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Rembrandt.

Beyond its graphic collection, the museum has expanded into modern and contemporary art, photography and architecture, while its restored Habsburg State Rooms remain among Vienna's architectural highlights.

Three exhibitions spanning centuries of artistic practice

The anniversary weekend offers free access to several major exhibitions. Collecting for the Future – 250 Years of the Albertina Museum traces how the museum's world-renowned collection grew from a private collection into one of the world's leading graphic art collections. Alongside masterpieces such as Dürer's Young Hare, the exhibition also highlights the often-overlooked role of Marie Christine in building the collection and reflects on how museums continue to collect for future generations.

Richard Prince examines originality and image culture by reusing photographs from advertising, magazines and popular media. KAWS: Art & Comix brings together contemporary art, comics and popular culture through paintings, sculptures and large-scale installations. Helga Philipp: Spaces of Movement presents the Austrian artist's precise geometric abstractions and optical experiments, revealing her important contribution to post-war concrete and Op Art.

From drawings on paper to paper in motion

The programme extends beyond the galleries. On Saturday morning, visitors can join the anniversary celebrations with the ceremonial cutting of a Sachertorte before participating in talks, workshops and guided tours.

One of the weekend's most distinctive events is Austrian artist Tone Fink's procession, in which around 70 participants wearing paper masks and costumes walk from the Albertina to Albertina MODERN and back. Because Fink has worked with paper for decades, the performance may also remind visitors of the Albertina's internationally renowned collection of drawings and prints, highlighting the many ways artists continue to explore the medium today.

Looking ahead with artificial intelligence

While celebrating its past, the museum also offers a glimpse of its future. During the Open House weekend, visitors can test the pilot version of ASK ALBERTINA, an experimental AI-powered digital guide currently available on-site.

The AI assistant is designed to answer questions about artworks, exhibitions and the museum while adapting its explanations to different audiences—from families and first-time visitors to art enthusiasts. The pilot allows the museum to collect visitor feedback before the system receives its wider rollout later this year.

The combination of centuries-old drawings, contemporary installations, participatory performances and artificial intelligence illustrates how the Albertina is presenting its anniversary: not only as a celebration of its history, but also as an opportunity to rethink how museums share knowledge with future audiences.

Image: Albertina Director General Ralph Gleis stands beside Ottmar Hörl's monumental pink interpretation of Albrecht Dürer's 'Young Hare' on the museum's rooftop wing overlooking Vienna. The sculpture marks the Albertina's 250th anniversary and announces the Open House weekend. Photo: © Albertina