Costumes from 100 Stars Open in Denver

The Denver Art Museum has opened a new exhibition on Level 2 of the Hamilton Building that displays clothing worn by 100 performers. The show, titled DIVA, is the only United States stop in a six-museum tour that has already visited Rotterdam, Budapest, Melbourne, and Auckland. Visitors will find the gallery through January 31, 2026.

Jill D’Alessandro, director and curator of the Avenir Institute of Textile Arts and Fashion at the DAM, describes a diva as someone with exceptional talent and a calling beyond personal gain. She notes that the definition shifts week by week. The exhibition explores various ways to be a diva rather than offering a single definition. D’Alessandro points to Dolly Parton, Cher, and Judy Garland as examples of the different traits on display.

The original curation was led by Kate Bailey at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The V&A already held about half of the objects in its permanent collection due to its performing arts department, which has existed since the 1920s. In London, the show used a rotunda-style gallery that blended eras and themes. The Denver space is approximately 30% larger, requiring the local team to rethink the presentation.

To appeal to an American audience, the DAM team added 50 pieces, including seven videos. They included Latina divas, expanded the Dolly Parton section, and added a Taylor Swift section. Of the 100 divas featured, 58 are American. The Denver version presents the narrative in a linear fashion, moving from 1830s opera to Victorian drama, Hollywood starlets, and contemporary figures.

The exhibition covers 240 objects, including velvet, satin, and sleek gowns. Specific items include Taylor Swift’s custom dress from the “The Life of a Showgirl” era, a gown Dolly Parton wore in episode 4 of “Dolly,” and a Barbra Streisand costume from “Funny Girl.” Other highlights include Rihanna’s CFDA Awards ensemble, Janelle Monáe’s vulva pants, and an Elton John costume from his 50th birthday party.

Male performers such as Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Prince, and Lil Nas X appear later in the show. One of D’Alessandro’s favorite pieces is the flame dress Bob Mackie designed for Tina Turner in 1977. Turner, then about 40, asked for something like a phoenix rising from the ashes to launch her solo career. Cher, RuPaul, and Beyoncé have since recreated the look.

D’Alessandro notes the importance of securing two Dolly Parton looks while the singer was alive. Parton helped choose the items and signed off on them. The gallery offers an immersive experience with headsets that play era-specific music and film audio. Several displays include video projections.

Midway through, visitors can take a personality quiz on mounted tablets to find their diva match. D’Alessandro matched with Lauryn Hill. A wall at the end invites attendees to write notes about missing divas. The board often lists family members, with Miss Piggy reportedly receiving many votes. The exhibition is not included in general museum admission.

The tour will next go to Tokyo after its Denver run. D’Alessandro states the show is rooted in women’s history and aims to entertain, educate, and empower viewers. She describes the narrative as complicated but entertaining. The exhibition emphasizes authenticity and reinvention as core lessons of a diva.

Visitors can purchase tickets to see the costumes, which include outfits from Björk, Marilyn Monroe, Maria Callas, and María Félix. The show runs through the end of January. The DAM added the new content to the original London design to suit the local context.