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Summary for: How Alphonse Mucha’s art inspired Disney’s Frozen—and still shapes culture todayBefore Elsa ever sang "Let It Go," her icy palace had roots in Prague.
At the Mucha Foundation’s new gallery inside Savarin Palace, the 1911 poster Princess Hyacinth offers an unexpected pop culture link: it inspired Disney’s Frozen, one of many modern works shaped by Alphonse Mucha’s distinctive Art Nouveau style.
The fun fact was revealed by the artist’s great-grandson Marcus Mucha, who was hosting a tour through galleries filled with rare artworks, personal objects, and stories only a direct relation could tell.
A friend of mine who worked at Disney once asked if I was related to the artist,” great-grandson Marcus Mucha recalled with a smile. “When I said yes, he admitted that Princess Hyacinth and her ice palace had inspired parts of the film.”
That moment connected the dots for a group of attendees from the Expats Business Leaders Club (EBLC), who gathered for an exclusive evening at the Foundation’s new home just steps from Wenceslas Square. For many, it was the first time they realized how a Czech artist’s vision helped define global aesthetics, from Disney to Marvel films to video games.
The EBLC guests began the evening in the courtyard of the baroque Savarin Palace, mingling over glasses of Spanish wine and bottles of Coca-Cola before following Marcus inside. The grand staircase and painted ceilings set the stage for the exclusive tour that blended art history, family legacy, and personal reflection.
Redefining beauty: The unseen side of Alphonse Mucha
Alphonse Mucha is well known for his Art Nouveau imagery,” Marcus said, pausing before a rare painting of a nude male figure, “but I wanted to start the gallery with something few have seen. My great-grandfather wasn’t afraid to show the realness of life. He saw beauty in the everyday and wasn’t bound by convention.”
Czechs know Mucha as one of their most celebrated artists, but even today many people abroad assume he was French. “Although his Paris period launched his international success, he always remained deeply connected to his Czech roots,” Marcus explained.
When Czechoslovakia was proclaimed on Oct. 28, 1918, he designed the first postage stamps and banknotes, as well as police uniforms and the national emblem.”
It’s these personal stories that delight the members of the EBLC, who know this moment is truly a special one: while deeply connected to the work at his family’s museum, Marcus doesn’t often give tours. The temporary museum guide built his career in the entertainment industry.
After his family was exiled to the U.K. in the 1960s, Marcus built a career in the entertainment industry, later living in Los Angeles before returning to Prague.
I remember visiting in 1989 and tasting Czech bread and beer for the first time,” he said. “It gave me an immediate sense of belonging. So when I moved from L.A. to take on the role of director of the Mucha Foundation, the transition felt natural.”
Bridging Czech heritage with global culture
Through his storytelling, Marcus made it easy to see how a movement born in Central Europe still influences modern design and media. As the family’s flagship space, the new gallery represents a consolidation of Mucha’s legacy under his descendants’ care. It also establishes a clear identity for the Mucha Foundation’s own collection, curated and overseen by the artist’s descendants, distinguishing it within Prague’s wider network of art institutions.
The Foundation’s new location, opened in February 2025, reflects that same sense of homecoming. Beyond its permanent exhibition, plans supported by developer Crestyl will soon see all 20 canvases of Mucha’s monumental Slav Epic displayed in a restored wing of the building.
For Prague’s international community, the new Mucha Foundation bridges Czech artistic heritage with the global culture many expats grew up with. But for Marcus, the goal is simple: to preserve and share his great-grandfather’s work with new generations—and new audiences.
“People send us notes from around the world saying how Mucha’s art influenced them,” he said. “It’s inspiring to see how his vision still connects people, from Prague to Hollywood.”
