The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is set to open its doors to the public on September 22 in Los Angeles' Exposition Park. The 300,000-square-foot facility will house the extensive personal art collection of filmmaker George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson.
While the museum is expected to be a significant draw for fans of Lucas' iconic "Star Wars" franchise, officials emphasize that the cinematic universe will represent only about 7% of the museum's total exhibition space. Visitors entering the museum will be greeted by a Naboo N-1 Starfighter from "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace." The opening exhibits will also feature items such as Luke Skywalker's landspeeder from the original "Star Wars" film and speeder bikes from "Return of the Jedi."
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The bulk of the museum's collection comprises comic art and works by commercial artists such as Norman Rockwell and Maxfield Parrish. The museum includes a dedicated gallery for Rockwell, known for his depictions of Americana. Other featured artists include Frida Kahlo and Andy Warhol.
Designed by architect Ma Yansong, the museum's construction began in 2018 and cost between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, funded entirely by Lucas and Hobson.
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Ma described the building's exterior as resembling a cloud or tree canopy. Inside, the museum offers 100,000 square feet of exhibition space across 33 galleries, displaying approximately 1,300 artworks. It also features two theaters, one for curated film screenings and another for exploring film as a storytelling medium. A three-floor library is also part of the facility.
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The museum's galleries are organized thematically around aspects of everyday life, including sports and civic activism, focusing on the narratives within the artworks rather than strict disciplinary categories.
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Tickets for general admission will be priced at $25 for adults.