Denver Art Museum Opens 'Diva' Exhibit Featuring 50 Celebrity Costumes
The exhibition displays gowns worn by Cher, Lady Gaga, and Tina Turner, charging $29 for general admission.
By Amina Howard ·
Fifty-plus celebrity costumes are on display at the Denver Art Museum as of this week. The exhibition, titled 'Diva,' features garments worn by major entertainers including Cher, Lady Gaga, and Tina Turner. General admission to the show is set at 29 dollars, while museum members pay a reduced rate of 7 dollars.
The exhibit originated at the Victoria and Albert Museum in England before moving to Denver. It combines fashion pieces with memorabilia such as movie posters, photographs, and jewelry. The collection spans several decades, including items associated with historical figures like Marilyn Monroe, Ingrid Bergman, and Vivien Lee. A dedicated opera section displays clothing from Maria Callas, Jessye Norman, and Joan Sutherland.
Specific items in the collection include a green plastic bustier designed by Issey Miyake and worn by Grace Jones in 1980. Visitors can also view a ruby-hued evening gown designed by Vivienne Westwood, modeled by opera star Joyce DiDonato in 2012. Lady Gaga’s lavender ensemble with a long train, designed by Valentino for the 2019 Golden Globe Awards, is also featured. Bob Mackie is represented by four sequined creations he designed for Cher, along with the 'Flame Dress' built for Tina Turner’s 1977 stage shows.
Other designers included in the lineup are John Galliano and James Kaliardos, both of whom created pieces worn by Rihanna. The exhibit also displays Janelle Monáe’s 'vulva' pants from a music video and the feathered headdress Taylor Swift used during her 'Life of a Showgirl' phase. Carmen Miranda’s full get-up, complete with a turban, is part of the display.
The exhibition poses the question of what defines a diva, tracing how the term shifted from a joke to a cultural marker. Curators note that the show aims to be both a fashion display and a history lesson. However, the narrative structure has drawn mixed reactions. Some observers feel the empowerment theme is forced, while others argue the collection should focus more on the design process or aesthetic concerns of the creators.
Critics have noted that the exhibit includes controversial selections, such as outfits for Joan Baez and Billie Eilish, which some argue do not fit the traditional definition of a diva. The text accompanying the garments is described by some viewers as gushing rather than critical. Despite these debates, the museum reports that the show was packed during its opening week in Denver.
'Diva' is scheduled to run through January 31, 2027, at the Denver Art Museum located at 100 W. 14th Ave. For more information, the museum provides a contact number at (720) 865-5000 and maintains an online presence at denverartmuseum.org.
