Heidelberg, Germany – The world mourns the loss of a pioneer and visionary in the field of anatomy. Dr. Gunther von Hagens, inventor of Plastination and creator of the renowned BODY WORLDS exhibitions, passed away on July 24, 2026 at the age of 81. The news was announced by his family and the Institute for Plastination on Monday, July 27, 2026.
Dr. von Hagens revolutionized the study of anatomy with his groundbreaking invention of Plastination in 1977. This preservation technique allowed for a unique and accessible perspective of the human body for medical education, science, and the general public. Previously limited to dissection rooms and textbooks, the complexity, vulnerability, and beauty of the human body became directly accessible to a wider audience.
Along with his wife and curator, Dr. Angelina Whalley, Dr. von Hagens created the BODY WORLDS exhibitions, which have been visited by over 58 million people since its debut. The exhibitions made anatomy publicly accessible and encouraged reflection on health, disease, lifestyle, and mortality, inspiring millions to appreciate and understand their own bodies.
“Gunther wanted to give people the opportunity to look beneath the skin – not out of sensationalism, but from the deep conviction that knowledge of one’s own body can contribute to a more conscious, healthier, responsible life,” says Dr. Whalley. “His work was scientific, educational, and deeply humanistic. He enabled millions of people to see their own bodies in a new light.”
His son, Rurik von Hagens, also pays tribute to his father’s life’s work, stating, “My father never accepted that boundaries were fixed. He brought anatomy out of the closed world of specialists and into society. His courage, perseverance, and unwavering belief that education serves humanity will continue to guide us.”
Dr. von Hagens was a pioneer, researcher, inventor, and creator. His life’s work combined scientific precision with exceptional craftsmanship, artistic expression, and a strong commitment to education. He was an unconventional and often provocative thinker, sparking heated debates, overcoming resistance, and understanding anatomy as an encounter with life itself.
Body donation was a central part of his work, with the human specimens displayed in BODY WORLDS coming from individuals who chose to donate their bodies for Plastination, scientific research, and anatomical education. Dr. von Hagens was deeply grateful for these individuals’ contribution to education, science, and public enlightenment. It was his own wish that his body be made available for Plastination after his death, a wish that his family will respect and carry out.
Despite battling serious illness, Dr. von Hagens remained closely connected to his life’s work. The Plastination technique he developed, the Institute for Plastination, the PLASTINARIUM, and the BODY WORLDS exhibitions will continue to carry on his legacy. His scientific and craftsmanship-based legacy is particularly evident in Guben, where the PLASTINARIUM creates anatomical specimens for use in the education of physicians and healthcare professionals at universities, medical schools, and educational institutions worldwide.
Today, Plastination is used in numerous universities, medical schools, and educational institutions worldwide, furthering Dr. von Hagens’ mission that began nearly five decades ago: to preserve anatomy permanently, make it visible, and make it accessible for science, teaching, and public education.
The family respectfully requests privacy during this time of mourning.
About Dr. Gunther von Hagens:
Born on January 10, 1945, in Alt-Skalden (now Poland), Dr. Gunther von Hagens grew up in the GDR. After studying medicine, he invented Plastination at the University of Heidelberg in 1977. In 1993, he founded the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg, followed by the PLASTINARIUM in Guben in 2006, which serves as the central laboratory facility for Plastination. With the BODY WORLDS exhibitions, he made human anatomy accessible to audiences worldwide, transforming anatomical education and becoming one of the most recognized intersections of science, medicine, and public exhibition in the world.
For press and public relations inquiries, please contact:
Institute for Plastination
Christiane Casott
Phone: +49 (0)6221 3311-40
ifp@plastination.com
