Controversy Followed by Suspension: Temporary Halting of Contemporary Easter Art Exhibition at Stephansdom

Annually, St. Stephen's Cathedral grants artists the chance to exhibit contemporary pieces in Austria's most distinguished house of worship during Easter. Due to discontent among certain attendees last year, it has been determined that a hiatus will ensue this year, and no thought-provoking art...

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2025 August 28 . 3:34 AM

2 min read

Controversy Leads to Temporary Halt in Contemporary Easter Art Display at Stephansdom

Controversy Followed by Suspension: Temporary Halting of Contemporary Easter Art Exhibition at Stephansdom

St. Stephen's Cathedral Pauses Provocative Art Exhibitions for Easter 2023

St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, the city's most significant church, will not be displaying any provocative art during Easter 2023. This decision comes after complaints from visitors about the nature of the art exhibited in previous years.

According to a report by Der Standard, Dean Toni Faber expressed regret over the cardinal's decision but is planning for future art exhibitions. The cathedral has been displaying modern artworks during Easter since 2013, with artists such as Gottfried Helnwein, Erwin Wurm, Billi Thanner, and Victoria Coeln gracing its walls.

Last year, some visitors expressed displeasure with the art displayed at the cathedral, leading to the decision to take a pause this year. Instead of exhibiting art from these artists, visitors will find fewer, less imposing purple cloths this year.

Past exhibitions at St. Stephen's Cathedral have included altars draped in impressive fasting cloths. One such example was the fasting cloth displayed by Gottfried Helnwein in 2024, which was expected to be shown at the cathedral.

However, no specific search results detail a planned high-caliber artwork for St. Stephen's Cathedral during Easter 2023 following a pause on provocative art displays. The results mainly cover concerts, architectural features, and ongoing exhibitions in galleries unrelated to St. Stephen’s Cathedral Easter programming in 2023.

Dean Toni Faber has already approved a project for a high-caliber artwork for next Easter. Despite the current pause, Faber regrets the cardinal's decision but plans to have a "high-caliber" artwork in the cathedral again next Easter.

The church aims to avoid further controversy by opting for a traditional, peaceful interior design this year at St. Stephen's Cathedral. Billi Thanner's artwork, "Ladder to Heaven" from 2021, is not being exhibited this year at St. Stephen's Cathedral due to the pause in art exhibitions.

The art displayed at St. Stephen's Cathedral during Easter is usually eye-catching and provocative. However, the reason for the "pause" in exhibiting art at St. Stephen's Cathedral this year is due to past complaints about the displayed "provocative" art.

St. Stephen's Cathedral has been a hub for modern art during Easter, but this year, it will take a different approach. Visitors will find a more traditional atmosphere, with fewer art installations and exhibitions. Despite this, Dean Toni Faber remains optimistic about the future of art at St. Stephen's Cathedral.