DENVER — The Denver Art Museum is hosting an exhibition titled “DIVA,” which opened on October 4 and runs through January 31. The show features 233 objects, including 60 outfits, and explores the cultural history and evolving definition of divas—both female and male—whose performances and personal narratives have left lasting impacts across music, theater, and popular culture.
Curated by Jill D’Alessandro, director of the museum’s Avenir Institute of Textile Arts and Fashion, and interpretive specialist Holly Harmon, the exhibition traces the term’s origins and cultural significance, showcasing iconic figures from different eras. The exhibit is presented in two sections, or “acts,” offering a historical and thematic look at divas’ influence and persona.
The exhibition originated at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, where it premiered in June 2023. Kate Bailey, the V&A’s senior curator of theater and performance, developed the concept out of curiosity about the word “diva” and its multiple meanings. Over several years, she researched the term and assembled items from the V&A’s collections as well as loans from other museums, private collectors, designers, and the divas themselves. Since London, the show has toured the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Australia.
Denver is the only stop in the United States. Christoph Heinrich, the museum’s director, attended the London show and believed it held significant cultural insights about popularity and historical context. To better reflect Denver’s demographics, where approximately 30 percent of the population is Latino, curators engaged with the museum’s Latino Audience Alliance, a committee of civic leaders and community influencers, to shape the local presentation.
The committee emphasized the inclusion of Latina divas, particularly mid-century Mexican actress María Félix, leading curators to secure related artifacts for the exhibit. Contemporary American divas such as Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift are also highlighted. Parton’s archive contributed a white dress she wore at Miley Cyrus’s 2023 New Year’s Eve party, and Swift provided a sparkly red dress plus friendship bracelets from her 2023-24 Eras Tour.
Visitors enter the exhibit via a grand staircase and a red carpet, accompanied by a sequin wall and headphones playing songs associated with featured divas. The exhibit’s narrative begins with two busts—one of Juno, the Roman goddess, and one of 19th-century opera singer Adelina Patti—referencing the term’s original association with divine female figures and 19th-century opera stars.
Act 1 presents divas who pioneered artistic independence and challenged social norms, such as actress Ellen Terry’s theatrical management in the early 1900s and contralto Marian Anderson’s landmark 1939 Lincoln Memorial performance following racial discrimination. The section also highlights moments of defiance and boundary-pushing in performance and style, including Marlene Dietrich’s gender-bending appearance in the 1930 film “Morocco” and Elizabeth Taylor’s commanding portrayal of Cleopatra.
Act 2 shifts focus to contemporary divas like Beyoncé, Parton, and Swift, exploring their multifaceted embrace of “divahood” through advocacy, fashion, and performance. Designs on display include a black-and-gold dress designed by Marc Bouwer for Whitney Houston, Rihanna’s Swarovski-studded gown that blends street and high fashion, and Bob Mackie’s yellow leather jacket worn by Pink, which pays tribute to Freddie Mercury. Lil Nas X appears in a lilac suit that nods to Prince and Lil’ Kim.
The exhibition concludes with a star-studded display that portrays the continuing expansion of the “diva universe,” underscoring how the legacy and cultural significance of divas remain vibrant and evolving.
By combining personal artifacts, fashion, music, and historical context, “DIVA” reveals the enduring impact of these performers on society, creativity, and identity.