Collection Online

Browse by artist name

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
Starfish crop top, merkin and gloves

Leigh BOWERY
Starfish crop top, merkin and gloves
 1987-1988

Medium
polyester (mesh, jersey), cotton, rayon, horsehair, plastic (sequins, snap buttons), metal and nylon (fastenings)

Measurements
(a) 68.0 cm (centre back) 60.0 cm (sleeve length) (crop top)
(b) 23.0 × 16.0 cm (merkin)
(c-d) 25.5 × 13.5 cm (each) (gloves)

Credit Line
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2026

Gallery location
Not on display

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
England

Department
Australian Fashion and Textiles

Discover more

Essay
Taboo or Not Taboo, the fashions of Leigh Bowery
Essay
Sites of refuge, connection, creation, resistance and loss: the queer bar and nightclub in the twentieth century
Essay
Every Brilliant Eye: Australian Art of the 1990s
Exhibition
Lurid Beauty
Essay
Major large-scale etching by Lucian Freud
Essay
Index 1945–2010
Essay
Precocious style: the Fashion Design Council, 1983–93

Explore the collection

Medal UNKNOWN (maker) Dress JULIEN MACDONALD, London (fashion house); Julien MacDONALD (designer) Dress OBSCURE DESIRES, Australia (fashion house); Lisa FOX (designer); Zandra RHODES (designer) Look 21, trench coat MARTIN GRANT, Paris (fashion house); Martin GRANT (designer) Dinner dress BALENCIAGA, Paris (fashion house); Cristóbal BALENCIAGA (designer) Dress RICHARD TYLER, Los Angeles (fashion house); Richard TYLER (designer) Coat VANESSA LEYONHJELM, Melbourne (fashion house); Vanessa LEYONHJELM (designer) Dress PATRICK KELLY, Paris (fashion house); Patrick KELLY (designer) Gumnut, ball gown Paul McCann Hat MARTIN GRANT, Paris (fashion house); Tamasine DALE (designer and milliner) Hat WILLIAM BEALE, Melbourne (millinery house); William BEALE (milliner) Dress HICKS, ATKINSON & SONS PTY LTD, Melbourne Bodice VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, London (fashion house); Vivienne WESTWOOD (designer) Jumpsuit CARLA ZAMPATTI, Sydney (fashion house); Carla ZAMPATTI (designer) Dress VANESSA LEYONHJELM, Melbourne (fashion house); Vanessa LEYONHJELM (designer) Jacket DI$COUNT UNIVER$E, Melbourne (fashion house); Cami JAMES (designer); Nadia NAPREYCHIKOV (designer) Fashion victim dress CHRISTOPHER GRAF, Melbourne (fashion house); Christopher GRAF (designer) Jumper ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, London (fashion house); Alexander McQUEEN (designer) Napoleon II, coat MARTIN GRANT, Paris (fashion house); Martin GRANT (designer) TEXTILE FALKINER FABRICS, Melbourne (manufacturer); Bee TAPLIN (designer) Hat, dress and skirt VANESSA LEYONHJELM, Melbourne (fashion house); Vanessa LEYONHJELM (designer) Dress JULIEN MACDONALD, London (fashion house); Julien MacDONALD (designer) Necklace CHANEL, Paris (fashion house); Karl LAGERFELD (designer) Toque DECOR by LINDA PATRICIA, Melbourne (fashion house); Linda P. SUCHESTOW (designer) White frilled dress OBSCURE DESIRES, Australia (fashion house); Lisa FOX (designer); Zandra RHODES (designer) Placemat Rachel GRIEVE Hat WILLIAM BEALE, Melbourne (millinery house); William BEALE (designer) Darcy, coat HOUSE OF REX, Melbourne (fashion house); Michael GLOVER (designer) Zodiacs PLAIN JANE, Melbourne (fashion house); Gavin BROWN (designer) Dress VANESSA LEYONHJELM, Melbourne (fashion house); Vanessa LEYONHJELM (designer)