YES! The DIVA Exhibition has landed, and it’s glitz, glam, poise, power and stories that will absolutely inspire all.
Everyone knows the saying: “It’s all in the eye of the beholder.” And this is true for anyone’s perception of their own unique version of reality. But, there is also an incredible difference between seeing something in print or on a screen to actually experiencing it in real life.
Tomorrow, the wonderfully exciting new DIVA Exhibition will open at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA). You will be able to witness every mind-blowing detail on beloved costumes and items from world-renowned icons that have brought to life the most amount of DIVAdom!
Standing right in front of electrifying creativity, where you can see the stitching and the sequins, the delicacy of the fabrics and the perfection in immaculately well-thought-out designs is an incredible, surreal feeling.
There is thought in every thread that’s been looped, and you can sense a magnetic charge left in the clothing that was worn by each performer. It’s like an echo of what was so grand, a special aura circling around every displayed item. It charges you.
Walking around the exhibit, you are exposed to the true meaning of DIVA: what it takes to have courage. To embody your individuality. To be true to yourself and to be fully aware of the message you are sending to the world. This is how you truly impact others, not just now, but for the future.
The word diva has had many meanings over the years. But looking deeply at the drive for forward movement, DIVA speaks volumes on collaborative success and fine-tuning it all to have your own spin on it.
“What I have with my voice is a hybrid beast… I draw on elements of my classical training but, ultimately, I sing the way I want to sing.”
– Kate Miller Heidke
Again, this is all part of DIVAdom. You work together, learn together, then stand up strong to present the shine that comes from your unique self. As “art is essential to life,” we understand the power of creativity. The force of DIVA has all derived from the early 1800s, where sculptors were inspired by the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome.
At this memorable exhibition, we travel from the Victorian drama queens, the silent stars of wordless films, dancers and showgirls, voices of opera and the blues, to the Hollywood divas, right through to the present. This global collection, which also includes Australian artists, is here for a short time before it moves on to Japan and tours the world.
Pushing the boundaries across radio, film, pop forums and more, we look at the attributes, expression, reinventions, and game changers including the likes of Cher, Prince, Tina Turner, Elton John, Dame Nellie Melba, Joan Crawford, Madonna, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Pink, Bette Midler, Kate Blanchett, Billie Eilish, Liza Minelli, Whitney Houston, Tina Arena, Jessica Mauboy and many more.
Many items in this collection will make you pause to soak in the sparkle. Olivia Newton-John’s Steinway baby blue grand piano and her rhinestone-encrusted jacket. The nightgown worn by Joan Sutherland in Lucia di Lammermoor. Kylie Minogue’s fancy dresses.
Timeless pieces from Isadora Duncan. Grand items from Beyoncé and Rihanna. Precious parts of history that include Ellen Terry’s ‘Triumphant Women’ speech book. Designs for Clara Bow and her makeup kit. And the 1971 original musical score to Diamonds Are Forever.
The message behind this celebration of some of history’s most powerful divas who have shaped cultural imagination is clear. And it’s absolutely worth being a part of.
“It would be lovely if, by being who I am, that gives others permission to be themselves.”
-Reuben Kaye
DIVA runs from 11 December 2025 – 26 April 2026 at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts, Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne. Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne and Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London.
Tickets are available here.
Website: https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/ampa/exhibitions/diva
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/artscentremelbourne/
Hero image: Astrid Mulder
