400 Golden Mozart Statues Populate Salzburg for Composer's 270th Birthday
German concept artist Ottmar Hörl has installed 400 gold-colored plastic statuettes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart across the Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg, marking the composer's 270th birthday. The 50-centimeter-tall figures depict Mozart with his favorite dog, Pimperl, aiming to show his human side. Only 300 are on display; the rest are held in reserve due to theft—two were stolen within hours of the July 15, 2026 unveiling. The installation, which includes Mozart's former living quarters and the Mirabell Garden, runs until August 30. Hörl, known for public polymer sculptures, previously displayed 10,000 plastic owls in Athens and oversized hares in South Korea. Statues are available for purchase at €100 each.
Key facts
- 400 gold-colored plastic Mozart statuettes by Ottmar Hörl installed at Mozarteum Foundation, Salzburg
- Figures are 50 cm tall and depict Mozart with his dog Pimperl
- Unveiled July 15, 2026 for Mozart's 270th birthday (born Jan 27, 1756)
- Only 300 on display; 100 held in reserve due to theft
- Two statues stolen within hours of installation
- Display runs until August 30
- Statues available for purchase at €100 ($114)
- Hörl previously displayed 10,000 plastic owls in Athens and oversized hares in South Korea
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Mozarteum Foundation
- Associated Press
- Daegu Art Museum
Locations
- Salzburg
- Austria
- Nuremberg
- Bayreuth
- Germany
- Athens
- Greece
- Daegu
- South Korea