After nearly 20 years in the making, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is finally ready to open its doors. Legendary filmmaker George Lucas and his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson, hosted an opening night gala on Sep. 19 ahead of the museum’s official public debut.
The star-studded Los Angeles event brought together a group of artists, filmmakers and philanthropists for an early exclusive first look into the long-awaited institution.
(via The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art)
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The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is dedicated entirely to visual storytelling, from prehistoric cave paintings to comics, illustration and cinema.
The 300,000-square-foot building sits in Exposition Park, housing more than 100,000 square feet of gallery space across more than 30 galleries.
Its collection spans centuries and mediums, including work from Norman Rockwell, Frida Kahlo and Robert Crumb alongside the complete Lucas Archives, highlighting the director’s iconic works.
Why the Making of the Museum Took So Long
George Lucas and Mellody Hobson were initially looking at Chicago and San Francisco as potential homes for the museum before the ultimately settled on Los Angeles.
The project faced years of delays, with its opening date pushed back multiple times due to factors including pandemic-related supply chain issues.
Ma Yansong of MAD Architects designed the striking building in collaboration with executive architect Stantec, giving the structure a curved, spacecraft-like silhouette that looks like it’s plucked from the future. It’s already become a local landmark.
Who Showed Up
The gala’s co-chairs include huge stars including Tom Cruise, Greta Gerwig, Guillermo del Toro, Steven Spielberg, Pharrell Williams and Sir Lewis Hamilton.
The guest list also featured Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Kerry Washington, Janelle Monáe, Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Magic Johnson and Keke Palmer, among many others.
The night opened with a performance by Pharrell and the Voices of Fire gospel choir, followed by heartfelt remarks from both of its founders.
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Marking a Deeply Personal Project for George Lucas
George Lucas reflected on the museum’s long journey, joking that what started as a “temple to illustrators” ended up feeling more like “a church for illustration.”
He explained the project took 17 years partly because of his own stubbornness and admitted that he’s always been drawn to doing things that people say can’t be done.
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When You Can Visit
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art officially opens its doors to the public starting Sep. 22. Click HERE for ticket details.
Between its star-studded launch, its deeply personal mission and nearly two decades of hard work finally paying off, the Lucas Museum looks ready to become one of L.A.’s most important new cultural landmarks.
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