Presenting Sponsor PNC Bank Continues Decade-long Relationship with Museum
Birmingham, AL (August 24, 2023) – The Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) is thrilled to announce its presentation of the critically acclaimed exhibition Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume created by the Walt Disney Archives and presented by PNC. Comprised of 70 costumes spanning nearly half a century, this captivating show takes visitors on a journey into the enchanting worlds of Disney, highlighting the innovative ways some of the iconic characters are brought to life through the artistry and imagination of their costumes.
“The BMA is proud to work with Disney on our first major exhibition in nearly a decade, which will offer Birmingham a rare first-hand look at famous
costumes that are a crucial part of Disney’s
incomparable storytelling,” says Graham C.
Boettcher, R. Hugh Daniel Director of the
Birmingham Museum of Art. “We are grateful to our presenting sponsor PNC for making this
once-in-a-lifetime show possible for our community.”
Premiering February 17, 2024, and running through August 18, 2024, the exhibition features a stunning collection of original works of art, including Captain Jack Sparrow’s pirate garb, Cruella De Vil’s fashionable frock, Cinderella’s glass slipper, and the Sanderson Sisters’ wicked wardrobe. Visitors will discover the craftsmanship behind exquisite ball gowns, majestic capes, intricate uniforms, dazzling tiaras, and more. These remarkable pieces provide a captivating glimpse into the creative process behind some of Disney’s
most beloved characters.
“As a national main street bank, PNC proudly supports the communities where we live and work,” said Nick Willis, PNC regional president for Greater Alabama. “We are delighted to support this special exhibition as part of our decade-long relationship with the Museum as they continue to inspire imagination and make a lasting impact on the region.”
Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume showcases the work of renowned designers from Hollywood past and present, including esteemed Academy Award® winners such as Colleen Atwood, Sandy Powell, and Tony Walton, Emmy® winner Ellen Mirojnick, and Emmy nominees Eduardo Castro and Penny Rose.
Within the exhibition, visitors will be immersed in the magical “Cinderella’s Workshop” gallery, where they can admire a variety of dresses worn by the beloved fairy-tale character in different Disney adaptations. From 1997’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s® Cinderella to 2014’s Into the Woods, the 2015 live-action reimagining of the animated classic, and the popular ABC series Once Upon a Time (TV, 2011–2018), the evolution of Cinderella’s costume is showcased in all its splendor.
The main exhibition gallery is organized into three Disney archetypes: heroes, villains, and the spaces between, dedicated to the complex and intriguing antiheroes of Disney lore. Alongside the displays, interactive elements allow visitors to fully engage with the enchanting world of Disney costuming.
Attendees can marvel at Belle’s ball gown
from 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, as well as
the enchanting costumes for Giselle, Prince
Edward, and Queen Narissa from Enchanted
(2007). Visitors can explore the striking
dresses of the stepsisters from 2015’s
Cinderella, and the unforgettable dress in
1978’s Return from Witch Mountain.
Additionally, take in the costumes of the Evil
Queen and Hook from Once Upon a Time
(TV, 2011–2018) and Mary Poppins’ dress
from 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns.
Following its successful run at the Museum of
Pop Culture in Seattle and the Henry Ford
Museum in Detroit, the Birmingham Museum
of Art is proud to be the third venue to host
this extraordinary exhibition. Previously,
Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney
Costume made its debut at the 2019 D23
Expo, the Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.
Tickets will go on sale on the Museum’s website this October. For updated information on hours, tickets, and more, please visit the museum’s website at artsbma.org.
Image 1: Cinderella gown designed by Sandy Powell and worn by Lily James in Cinderella (2015). © Disney
Image 2: Queen Narissa costume designed by Mona May and worn by Susan Sarandon in Enchanted (2007). © Disney
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About the Birmingham Museum of Art
Founded in 1951, the Birmingham Museum of Art has one of the finest collections in the Southeast. More than 27,000 objects displayed and housed within the Museum represent a rich panorama of cultures, including Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American. Highlights include the Museum’s collection of Asian art, Vietnamese ceramics, the Kress collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts from the late 13th century to the 1750s, and the Museum’s world-renowned collection of Wedgwood, the largest outside of England.
About the Walt Disney Archives
For more than 50 years, the Walt Disney Archives has carefully safeguarded the most treasured items from The Walt Disney Company’s history, including original scripts, movie props and costumes, Walt Disney’s correspondence and script notes, theme park artifacts, merchandise, millions of archival photographs, and many of Walt’s personal effects. Founded by Disney Legend Dave Smith in 1970, the Walt Disney Archives is a vital resource for every part of Disney, as well as an important research center for Disney scholars, researchers, and writers. The Archives also shares its countless pieces with Disney fans everywhere through its exhibitions and close association with D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.
For the Walt Disney Archives:
Taryn Maister
The Walt Disney Company
Taryn.Maister@Disney.com
PNC Bank
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.