Exhibition Dates: February 2025 to January 2026

Curator: George Savoulis (Curator September 2023 – April 2024; Curatorial Director April 2024 – June 2025)

Installation Manager: Brett Lyon

BE:DAZZLED – Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Costume Extravaganza, presented in partnership with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, examined the history, creativity, and cultural significance of Mardi Gras costumes as expressions of identity, protest, and celebration.

Drawing on archival garments and accessories, the exhibition traces the evolution of costume design from early parade entries to large-scale contemporary spectacles. The displayed works highlight the skill of designers and makers, as well as the role of costume in amplifying visibility, pride, and collective expression within LGBTQIA+ communities.

Through costume, material detail, and historical context, BE:DAZZLED documents Mardi Gras fashion as a vital form of cultural storytelling. The exhibition positions costume not only as adornment, but as a vehicle for self-representation, political statement, and community belonging within the ongoing history of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.