If you’re even remotely into glamour, camp, or show-stopping fashion, the Reflections of Glamour: Bob Mackie presentation at the Palm Springs Art Museum is basically a must‑see.

It’s not a giant retrospective, and honestly, that’s part of the charm. It feels intimate, almost like you’ve slipped backstage into Mackie’s world for a moment. 

I was lucky to have met Mackie on three separate occasions here in Palm Springs.  I’m a huge fan of his work, obviously.  He was very pleasant in person.

The museum has pulled together five original gowns and costumes, plus a curated selection of sketches spanning the 1970s through the 2000s. It’s a tight edit, but every piece hits.

You get that unmistakable Mackie blend of humor, theatricality, and pure sparkle – the kind of work that made Cher, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Carol Burnett, Elton John, and so many others look larger than life.

One of the undeniable stars of the show is the “Scarlett O’Hara” gown from Carol Burnett’s legendary Went With the Wind parody – yes, the one with the actual curtain rod across the shoulders. Seeing the sketch next to the real gown is a delight, especially if you grew up watching that moment and laughing every single time. I did.  I used to watch the show with my grandparents.

Because it’s housed in the Jorgensen Gallery on the ground floor, the whole thing feels focused and jewel-box-like – a little shrine to the art of making people gasp.

The presentation runs January 26 – March 30, 2026, and it was created to coincide with the museum’s annual Art Party gala, where Mackie himself was honored – with Carol Burnett presenting, naturally.

The Female Form

Over in the Female Form exhibition, the mood shifts from theatrical sparkle to something almost startlingly intimate. The sculptures are so hyper‑realistic you catch yourself slowing down, leaning in, trying to figure out where the artist’s hand ends and the illusion begins.

There’s a quiet power in seeing the body rendered with that much precision – every fold, freckle, and gesture captured with a kind of reverence that feels both modern and timeless. It’s one of those shows where you think you’re just popping in for a look, and suddenly you’re standing there longer than you meant to, completely absorbed.

Female Form: Tom Wesselmann & Mickalene Thomas from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation

Reflections of Glamour: All works are courtesy of Bob Mackie. Special thanks to Joe McFate, Design Director for Bob Mackie. Exhibition support is provided by Revivals and DAP Health.

Photos: d. king