George Lucas Museum Opens in Los Angeles, Welcomes First Visitors
The $1 billion institution, co-founded by the filmmaker and Mellody Hobson, showcases visual storytelling across various mediums.
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art officially opened its doors to the public on Tuesday in Los Angeles' Exposition Park. Co-founders George Lucas and Mellody Hobson were present to welcome the initial wave of visitors, including a special greeting for the first 100 guests, who were students from local institutions.
"I have spent more than fifty years collecting the work of artists who don’t always get their due — illustrators, cartoonists, muralists, painters — because I believe their images are as vital as any other art form. They deserve to be in a museum," Lucas said in his opening remarks. Hobson added, “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.”
The 300,000-square-foot museum, designed by architect Ma Yansong, aims to explore the history of visual storytelling. Its collection spans diverse artists and eras, featuring works from figures like Artemisia Gentileschi, Norman Rockwell, Frida Kahlo, Robert Colescott, Frank Frazetta, and Robert Crumb.
A dedicated gallery, "Star Wars in Motion," highlights vehicle designs from the first six films of the franchise, using materials from the Lucas Archives. The museum comprises 100,000 square feet of exhibition space across 33 galleries, displaying approximately 1,300 artworks. It also includes two theaters and a research library.
The museum is offering free admission to residents in the 90037 zip code through its LM37 pass program. Standard adult tickets are priced at $25, with a reduced rate of $21 for seniors.
