Victoria and Albert Museum hosts Freddie Mercury costume exhibition

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London has launched a free, temporary exhibition titled ‘Splendid Things’ to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Freddie Mercury’s birth. The exhibition features a trail of iconic costumes and accessories worn by the Queen frontman during his most memorable performances and music videos throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Seven of the displayed outfits are on loan from Mary Austin, Mercury’s former fiancée and long-time confidante, who provided items from her private collection. Notable pieces include the signature cloak-and-crown ensemble from the 1986 Magic Tour, as well as the ‘white-winged suit’ and ‘black spine suit’ from the 1975 A Night at the Opera tour.

Kate Bailey, the V&A’s senior curator of theatre and performance, noted that the exhibition aims to reflect Mercury’s multi-disciplinary creativity and his passion for art, design, and fashion. The museum, which holds the National Collection of the Performing Arts, expressed interest in acquiring more Queen-related items to further celebrate the band’s global cultural impact.