A first look at the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art arrives Wednesday, offering an early glimpse inside its sweeping collection before the museum officially opens to the public on Sept. 22. Visitors can expect everything from “Star Wars” treasures and classic paintings to comic art, sculpture and other works that celebrate the power of visual storytelling.
The massive five-level museum spans 300,000 square feet and has been nearly two decades in the making. After years of planning, construction got underway in 2018 at Exposition Park.
Founded by George Lucas, the filmmaker behind “Star Wars,” the museum features plenty for fans of the galaxy far, far away, including beloved characters, iconic droids and famous starfighters tied to Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2, C-3PO and Darth Vader.
Still, the Lucas Museum is designed to be much more than a destination for “Star Wars” memorabilia.
“Newspaper photographs, advertisement book covers, comic books, posters, street art, movies. They’re all examples of visual storytelling,” said Ryan Linkof, the museum’s senior curator and head of film programs.
The galleries will showcase thousands of additional works, from comic books and sculptures to paintings by Norman Rockwell and many other pieces. Together, the collection traces how images have shaped stories across generations and mediums.
“The picture is very powerful, and the stories are very powerful, and you combine them together, and those two elements create a society,” Lucas said.
For Lucas, transforming that vision into a full-scale museum has been a long and ambitious journey.
“I’m used to doing the impossible. This one almost broke my will,” Lucas said.
The museum includes 100,000 square feet of gallery space and more than 30 galleries, according to CEO Tracey Bates. The surrounding grounds also feature new public parks and gardens.
The museum is slated to open to the public on Sept. 22.
Admission will cost $25 for adults, and visitors under 18 can get in for free.
With a price tag of more than $1 billion, the Lucas Museum represents a major addition to Los Angeles’ cultural community.
