For years now, he has been one of the most well-known comedy legends in the German-speaking world: Otto Waalkes. Generations have laughed about his wordplay and parodies. His films, television appearances, songs, and verses have become an integral part of pop culture.
Despite his stardom, his artistic ambitions are lesser known. As a painter, he has made his iconic character, the Ottifant, roam through the history of art. During his time in an artists’ housing co-op with Udo Lindenberg, Marius Müller-Westernhagen, and others, OTTO studied at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg.
The ALBERTINA Museum and its collection have always fascinated him.
To mark the 250th anniversary of its founding, the ALBERTINA Museum invited OTTO to reinterpret and comment on selected masterpieces from its Graphic Art Collection.
Through an intervention in the Habsburg State Rooms, Otto Waalkes encounters renowned masterpieces from the ALBERTINA, entering into a dialogue of the extra-Frisian kind.
Parodic appropriation as the sincerest form of homage.
Albertina
Located in the historical heart of Vienna, the Albertina combines Imperial flair with great art. A magnificent former residence of the Habsburgs and an art museum of international renown, the Albertina stands for one of the most important collections of graphic art, attracting city and cultural tourists from all over the world.
OTTO MEETS ALBERTINA
3 Jun 2026 - 10 Jan 2027
Albertina
Albertinaplatz, 1010 Wien, Österreich
Otto Waalkes Der ostfriesische Götterbote, 2025, Acryl auf Hartfaserplatte, Teegrund © 2026 Otto Waalkes
