Alphonse Mucha’s Artistic Legacy Lives On in the Czech Republic: Commemorative Bench Installed in Brno

As part of the Mucha Trail (Muchova stezka), a cultural project that connects places where Alphonse Mucha lived and created his works, a commemorative bench honoring the artist has been installed in Brno, the Czech Republic’s second-largest city.

In June 2026, a commemorative bench dedicated to Alphonse Mucha was installed in Brno, the second-largest city in the Czech Republic. Designed to resemble an artist’s easel, the bench serves as the starting point of the Mucha Trail (Muchova stezka), a cultural route that connects places associated with the artist’s life and work.

Mucha was born in Ivančice in the Moravian region and studied in Brno during his youth. The newly installed bench is located near the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, where he once sang in the choir. Through a QR code, visitors can learn more about Mucha’s early years, including his encounters with influential composers and the experiences that helped shape his artistic career.

More than 160 years after his birth, Alphonse Mucha’s art continues to be admired around the world. Efforts to preserve and share his legacy remain active throughout the Czech Republic, and the installation of this commemorative bench stands as one of the latest projects celebrating his enduring cultural and artistic influence.

In 2025, a new museum dedicated to Alphonse Mucha opened inside the historic Savarin Palace in the heart of Prague. Operated with the cooperation of the Mucha Foundation and the Mucha family, the official museum showcases a rich collection of the artist’s works, including posters, oil paintings, drawings, and pastel artworks, as well as a number of his personal belongings.

In the Czech Republic, Alphonse Mucha’s artistic vision and philosophy continue to be carefully preserved and celebrated. The timeless beauty of his work transcends generations and national borders, continuing to inspire and captivate people around the world.

The year 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the sister city partnership between Kyoto and Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

Both Kyoto and Prague are renowned for their rich histories and deep appreciation of cultural heritage. Over the past three decades, the two cities have fostered a wide range of cultural exchanges and mutual cooperation.

As this important milestone is celebrated, renewed attention is being focused on the cultural ties and ongoing exchange between Kyoto and Prague.

At Kawase Mitsuori Textile, we pay tribute to the artistry of Alphonse Mucha by creating kimono and neckties that express the beauty and spirit of his work through the traditional craft of Nishijin weaving.

At this memorable ceremony in Brno, Marcus Mucha, CEO of the Mucha Foundation and great-grandson of Alphonse Mucha, wore one of our Nishijin-woven neckties featuring Casablanca, one of Mucha’s most beloved and iconic designs, as he attended the commemorative event.

The meeting of a great artistic legacy born in the Czech Republic and a weaving tradition that has been preserved in Kyoto’s Nishijin district for more than 150 years continues to inspire new possibilities. We look forward to sharing the beauty born from this cultural connection with people around the world.

Kawase Mitsuori Textile Co., Ltd. is an officially authorized partner of MUCHA. Discover the story behind this unique collaboration and how the artistry of Alphonse Mucha was brought to life through the traditional craft of Nishijin weaving.

We visited the Czech Republic, the homeland of Alphonse Mucha, and had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Embassy of Japan in the Czech Republic. During our visit, we exchanged views on the cultural connections between Mucha and Japan, as well as the continuing influence of his artistic legacy in both countries.