To quote the work of the co-founder of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, “That’s no moon—it’s a space station.” Things are not always what they appear. And the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is no ordinary art museum.
The joint effort of “Star Wars” creator George Lucas and his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson, the Lucas Museum threw open its doors to the public today in Los Angeles, California’s Exposition Park. The 300,000-square-foot facility is set on 13 acres and its inaugural exhibitions feature more than 1,200 items in over 30 galleries. Narrative art is defined as storytelling done through images: Think everything from the first cave paintings to the multimedia artwork of today. Lucas himself has been a collector of narrative art for 50 years, and the museum’s founding collection includes more than 40,000 pieces from artists like Norman Rockwell, Diego Rivera, and Frida Kahlo. Some of Lucas’ own work also will have a home at the museum, including displays of props, costumes, original artwork, and more.
“This is a museum of the ‘people’s art’—the images are illustrations of the beliefs we live with every day, and for that reason, this art belongs to everyone,” said Hobson, in a prepared statement. “From the beginning, George and I have wanted this to be a place where visitors of every background can walk through our galleries and see themselves, and their humanity, reflected back. Today, that vision opens its doors.”
Located just steps from the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and convenient to other L.A.-area museums such as the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Science Center, the museum campus features acres of green space and gardens. An on-site cafe is open for small bites, with the full-service Skywalker Grill also available. The museum is currently open every day except for Tuesday. Information on group ticketing is forthcoming; for updates, visit lucasmuseum.org/plan-your-visit.
Main Image: Lucas Museum of Narrative Art; Credit: Lucas Museum of Narrative Art/Iwan Baan
