5 Must-See Exhibits at George Lucas’s Museum of Narrative Art

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Opens in Los Angeles After 17-Year Development

Opening to the public in Los Angeles on Tuesday, the $1 billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art brings together commercial illustration, comic art, and fine art collections amassed by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas and his wife, businesswoman and co-founder Mellody Hobson, according to reporting from the Associated Press. Located in Exposition Park near the University of Southern California, the 17-year project spans galaxies of galleries highlighting populist painters and narrative art forms. According to Associated Press coverage, Lucas described the institution as a “temple to the people’s art” and a project that “almost broke my will” after initial design phases in San Francisco and Chicago were scrapped.

Five Must-See Exhibits and Architectural Highlights

Visitors exploring the sprawling Exposition Park institution can view a mix of high art, pop culture touchstones, and site-specific architectural design. According to the Associated Press, the five most notable installations include outdoor statuary, street art, and rare paintings from international collections:

• Princess Leia Statuary: Surrounding green spaces feature “The Hutt Slayer,” a commissioned sculpture of Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia in her metal bikini choking Jabba the Hutt, alongside statues of Yoda, Grogu, and Natalie Portman’s Padmé Amidala, according to the Associated Press.
• Banksy Murals and Activist Art: A fifth-floor gallery houses stenciled murals by British street artist Banksy, who worked personally with Lucas on the institutional contribution, alongside activist murals by Judith Baca and Diego Rivera, as reported by the Associated Press.
• The Oculus: Designed by architect Ma Yansong, the cloud-inspired building features a central oculus in the dome above the main plaza, which Ma characterized to the Associated Press as “almost like a spiritual space.”
• Frida Kahlo’s Self-Portrait: The fourth-floor galleries display the 1940 painting “Autorretrato Dedicado al Dr. Eloesser” (“Self Portrait Dedicated to Dr. Eloesser”), acquired by the museum in 2020 as one of the few Kahlo portraits held outside Mexico, according to the Associated Press.
• Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s Poker Game: Positioned near the Kahlo portrait, the 1894 oil painting showing dogs playing cards represents the museum’s deliberate blending of lowbrow kitsch and fine art collections, as noted by the Associated Press.

Comparative Perspectives on the Opening

Media previews of the facility highlighted contrasting visitor reactions to the expansive collection. According to a first-hand report by Brian Lally, the building’s organic, streamlined architecture evokes the aerodynamic spacecraft of Planet Naboo from “The Phantom Menace,” serving as an antidote to Los Angeles office blocks and asphalt parking lots. While Lally’s reporting focused on childhood nostalgia and the navigation of franchise memories—ranging from the original 1977 release to contentious characters like Jar Jar Binks—the Associated Press emphasized the institution’s broader scope, bridging the gap between Hollywood design history and traditional fine artists like Pablo Picasso and Diego Rivera.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art open?

According to the Associated Press, the museum opens to the public on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Where is the museum located?

The $1 billion institution is situated in Exposition Park near the University of Southern California, according to the Associated Press.

What kind of art is featured in the museum?

The museum combines populist painters, commercial illustrators, comic artists, and street art like Banksy murals with fine art pieces, including works by Frida Kahlo and Norman Rockwell, alongside “Star Wars” vehicle exhibits, according to the Associated Press and Brian Lally.