The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art officially opened to the public on September 22 in Los Angeles, showcasing a diverse collection of artwork that extends well beyond the “Star Wars” saga created by George Lucas. While the cultural iconography of “Star Wars” features prominently, comprising about 7% of the museum’s exhibitions, the institution is designed to celebrate a broad spectrum of narrative art, from commercial illustrators and comic artists to populist painters and paperback cover creators.
Located adjacent to the University of Southern California in Exposition Park, the museum occupies 100,000 square feet within a building designed by architect Ma Yansong. Its futuristic design, often likened to a spacecraft, includes broad oval windows that offer panoramic views of the city and create an immersive experience for visitors.
The project marks the culmination of a vision nearly two decades in the making. Lucas, the museum’s co-founder along with his wife Mellody Hobson, recounted the challenges along the way, including setbacks in finding an appropriate site in cities such as San Francisco and Chicago. At 82, Lucas described the opening as “almost breaking” him but expressed pride in realizing a space dedicated to what he terms “the people’s art.”
The museum’s opening exhibition, “Star Wars in Motion,” features iconic props like Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder and speeder bikes from the original trilogy, alongside a bright yellow Naboo N-1 Starfighter suspended in the lobby. However, the core of the museum lies in the extensive personal collection amassed by Lucas and Hobson, which encompasses hundreds of works encompassing varied narrative traditions.
Among the highlights is a gallery devoted to Norman Rockwell, the 20th-century illustrator best known for his covers on “The Saturday Evening Post.” The museum aims to reframe Rockwell’s work as sophisticated storytelling steeped in nuance, as attested by senior curator Ryan Linkof, who emphasized the cultural significance of pieces such as Rockwell’s depiction of Ruby Bridges entitled “The Problem We All Live With.” This painting captures the historic moment of a six-year-old Bridges escorted into an all-white school amid segregation-era tensions.
The collection also features paintings by Maxfield Parrish, whose luminous, ethereal landscapes embody a distinct period of American commercial art. The Parrish gallery serves as a contemplative space highlighting the artist’s signature use of light and atmospheric effects.
In addition to these works, the museum includes selections by higher-profile artists such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Andy Warhol, reflecting the narrative art tradition more broadly. Its curatorial approach transcends conventional categorization by era or genre, focusing instead on thematic explorations of myths and stories central to everyday life.
Other notable sections encompass the fantasy and science fiction genres, featuring artwork by Frank Frazetta and Paul Raymond Gregory, as well as a children’s section that includes illustrations from Hilary Knight and manga and anime works, including pieces inspired by Pokémon.
With its eclectic scope and emphasis on narrative creativity, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art seeks to elevate often overlooked mediums and challenge traditional hierarchies within the art world, positioning itself as a unique cultural institution in Los Angeles.