Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to Open in Los Angeles

George Lucas, the creator of ‘Star Wars’, describes his Lucas Museum of Narrative Art as a ‘temple to the people’s art’. After seventeen years since its conception, it will open to the public in Los Angeles on Tuesday. This $1 billion museum, located in Exposition Park close to the University of Southern California, is the culmination of a lifelong endeavor for Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, a businesswoman and co-founder. Their extensive collections fill the diverse galleries within.

At 82, Lucas relishes achieving the unimaginable. Initially planned for San Francisco and Chicago, the project reached preliminary design stages in both cities before Lucas faced rejections. The Los Angeles site uniquely blends works from populist painters, commercial illustrators, and comic artists alongside those more traditionally recognized in major museums.

George Lucas refers to the museum’s journey as one that ‘almost broke my will’.

Notable Exhibits

The museum showcases a range of striking installations. Among these is a life-size display of ‘Star Wars’ props and characters. Visitors will encounter a sculpture titled ‘The Hutt Slayer’, which depicts Princess Leia in a defining scene from ‘Return of the Jedi’. This remains one of the notable tributes to ‘Star Wars’, though the film is only a minor facet of the museum’s exhibits.

The inaugural ‘Star Wars in Motion’ presentation features vehicles from the original trilogy and the prequels directed by Lucas. A Naboo starfighter is distinctly displayed in the library lobby. As guests explore the museum grounds, they will also find statues of characters like Yoda, Grogu, and Padmé Amidala.

The museum’s green spaces enhance its immersive experience.

Banksy’s Street Art

Found on the less accessible fifth-floor gallery, two walls proudly display stenciled murals from Banksy, the enigmatic British street artist. Working alongside Lucas, Banksy contributed specific pieces, including the emblematic image of a girl releasing a heart-shaped balloon. Nearby are activist pieces from artists like Judith Baca and Diego Rivera.

Architectural Highlights

Architect Ma Yansong designed a structure that appears to float above the surrounding architecture, which includes the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Central to this unique design is an oculus in the dome’s main plaza, offering a celestial experience. Ma describes the space as ‘almost spiritual’.

He states, ‘I think architecture is a narrative, is storytelling’. The oculus and various atmospheric elements in the museum aim to provide an emotionally resonant space.

‘Different atmospheres that we provided, I think it’s very important that the building become an emotional space for people.’

Rare Frida Kahlo Portrait

A prominent Frida Kahlo self-portrait adds a rare gem to the museum’s collection. Titled ‘Self Portrait Dedicated to Dr. Eloesser’, it features Kahlo adorned with flowers, a thorn necklace with blood drops, and earrings gifted by Pablo Picasso. Acquired in 2020, it stands as one of the few outside Mexico.

These works highlight the fusion of timeless art with stories behind them.

Kahlo’s painting is close to Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s ‘Poker Game’—another example of the museum’s high-low art fusion. The painting illustrates dogs engrossed in a card game, marking a juxtaposition of art styles displayed in the museum.