Comprised of 70 costumes from close to a half-century of productions, Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume, comes to the Birmingham Museum of Art next month in partnership with The Walt Disney Archives. The exhibition is presented by PNC.
The show highlights the enchantment of Disney characters and shows ways in which creative craftsmanship brings them to life. Visitors will view a collection that includes pieces worn by Cruella De Vil, the Sanderson Sisters, and Captain Jack Sparrow, as well as Cinderella’s glass slipper. Costumes from Mary Poppins are the oldest in the exhibit, and a group of costumes from Dumbo (2019) is the newest. Also included is the fairy godmother costume worn by Whitney Houston in Cinderella.
Visitors will get to explore the intricacies of ball gowns, capes, uniforms, tiaras, and more worn by actresses such as Julie Andrews, Bette Davis, Glenn Close, and Angelina Jolie. The pieces provide a glimpse into the creative process and minds of more than 20 Hollywood designers, including Colleen Atwood, Eduardo Castro, Sandy Powell, and Tony Walton. The showcase will spotlight not just many of Disney’s most iconic costumes, but also the artisans and their significant contributions that brought the pieces to life.
The exhibit originally debuted at the 2019 D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, and has now traveled around the country, including to Seattle and Dearborn, Michigan. It premieres at the Birmingham Museum of Art February 17 for a six-month stay through August 18.
Admission is $30 for adults, $25 for seniors (age 65 and up), and $20 for youth (ages 4-12); children 3 and under are free. For tickets and more information, visit artsbma.org.