Denver Art Museum displays 240 costumes from 100 famous performers in 'DIVA' exhibit

The Denver Art Museum has opened its doors to a new fashion exhibition titled “DIVA,” which showcases nearly 100 performers and 240 specific garments. The display occupies Level 2 of the Hamilton Building and is currently open to the public. Jill D’Alessandro, the director and curator of Avenir Institute of Textile Arts and Fashion at the museum, describes the show as a collection of items that embody exceptional talent and authenticity. She notes that the definition of a diva changes frequently, allowing the exhibit to explore multiple interpretations rather than enforcing a single standard.

The exhibition is part of a six-museum international tour. It has already been displayed in Rotterdam, Budapest, Melbourne, and Auckland. The Denver run is the only stop in the United States before the collection moves to Tokyo. Kate Bailey at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London originally curated the show. That institution already held about 50% of the objects in its permanent collection, which has included a performing arts department since the 1920s. D’Alessandro points out that 58 of the 100 divas featured in the show are American.

Because the Denver space is approximately 30% larger than the original London rotunda-style gallery, the curatorial team adjusted the layout and content. They restructured the presentation to be more linear, starting with 1830s opera and moving through Victorian theater, the Golden Age of Hollywood, and contemporary feminism. To appeal to an American audience, the team added 50 new pieces and seven videos. These additions include a dedicated section on Taylor Swift and expanded coverage of Latina divas. D’Alessandro specifically mentioned enhancing the Dolly Parton section as part of this revision.

The gallery features a wide range of fabrics, including velvet, satin, and sleek gowns. Specific items on display include a custom dress, gloves, and heels from Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” era. Visitors can also see a gown Dolly Parton wore in episode 4 of the series “Dolly” and a costume from Barbra Streisand’s role in “Funny Girl.” Other notable pieces include Rihanna’s ensemble from the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards and Janelle Monáe’s vulva pants from the “Pynk” music video. The exhibit also features an over-the-top costume Elton John wore for his 50th birthday party and Whitney Houston’s 1994 Grammy Awards dress.

One of the 240 objects is a flame dress designed by Bob Mackie for Tina Turner in 1977. D’Alessandro identifies this as one of her favorites. Turner was around 40 years old at the time and sought to launch her solo career. She asked Mackie to create something resembling a phoenix rising from the ashes, a look that has since been recreated by Cher, RuPaul, and Beyoncé. The curators also secured two looks from Dolly Parton while she was alive. Parton helped choose the items and signed off on them, a process D’Alessandro describes as very special.

The exhibition is designed to be immersive. Attendees receive headsets upon entry that play music or film audio from the specific era of the displays. Several exhibits include accompanying video projections. Midway through the gallery, visitors can take a personality quiz on mounted tablets. This quiz matches participants with the diva they most resemble. D’Alessandro noted that she matched with Lauryn Hill during her test of the system. At the end of the gallery, a wall allows visitors to write notes about divas they feel are missing from the show. D’Alessandro observed that many attendees list family members, though Miss Piggy appears to be a frequent entry.

The exhibit includes a few male performers, such as Freddie Mercury, Prince, and Lil Nas X, who appear later in the narrative. The show is not included in general admission to the Denver Art Museum. Tickets must be purchased separately. The “DIVA” exhibition is scheduled to run through January 31.