Construction of George Lucas’s museum – the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art – is nearing completion in Los Angeles. The museum is set to open its doors on 22 September 2026 and will showcase over 40,000 works related to narrative art. The futuristic building, designed by MAD Architects, is set to become a new hub for painting, comics, photography, illustration and cinema, showcasing, among other things, extensive collections related to the iconic “Star Wars” series.
George Lucas’s Museum of Imagination
For millions of viewers around the world, George Lucas is first and foremost the creator of the iconic “Star Wars” series and co-author of the Indiana Jones adventures. Far fewer people, however, know that for several decades he also built up an impressive art collection. Its origins date back to his student days, when he bought original comic book panels for a few dollars. Over the years, Lucas’s collection has grown to over 40,000 items of all kinds. Today, their value is estimated at around a billion dollars. It is this collection that has become the foundation of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
The long road to Los Angeles
The history of the entire project is far more complicated than it might seem. In 2013, George Lucas wanted to build his museum in San Francisco, near the Lucasfilm headquarters. However, the idea met with opposition from the managers of the neighbouring park. Chicago was therefore the next candidate, where an attractive plot by Lake Michigan was selected. However, years of disputes over the use of public land led to this concept being abandoned as well. It was not until 2017 that it was announced that the project would ultimately be located in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, in the vicinity of the city’s most important institutions.
Architecture without sharp edges
Chinese architect Ma Yansong and MAD Architects are responsible for the building’s design. The streamlined structure brings to mind a building straight out of the “Star Wars” series. The soft lines and smoothly shaped surfaces give the impression of floating above the ground. After eight years of challenging work, the project is nearing completion. The main structure has already been completed, and the façade, comprising around 1,500 prefabricated fibreglass panels, is almost ready. The building will offer nearly 28,000 square metres of usable space, over 9,000 square metres of galleries and 35 exhibition halls.
The George Lucas Museum – art without boundaries
The museum’s creators reject the traditional boundaries between high art and popular culture. The collection will include works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Norman Rockwell and Jacob Lawrence, alongside Jack Kirby’s comics, Frank Frazetta’s illustrations and works by Kadir Nelson and Yinka Shonibare. Materials related to Lucas’s work will occupy a particularly important place, including storyboards, costumes, props and concept art for “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones”. Visitors will also see works by Ralph McQuarrie, the artist responsible for the visual creation of Darth Vader, the stormtroopers and many other elements of the famous space saga.
More than just a film museum
Around 20 exhibitions are being prepared for the grand opening. Only one exhibition will be directly dedicated to cinema. The curators are focusing on themes such as family, community, adventure, childhood, migration and identity. The institution’s collections will also include the Separate Cinema Archive, comprising around 37,000 items documenting the history of African-American cinema. The archive contains posters, photographs and production materials relating to, amongst others, Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson.
The legacy of the creator of “Star Wars”
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art can be seen as a culmination of George Lucas’s long career. The director revolutionised cinema through Lucasfilm, founded the special effects studio Industrial Light & Magic, and his company’s computer division gave rise to Pixar. Following the sale of Lucasfilm to The Walt Disney Company in 2012 for approximately $4 billion, the director devoted increasing attention to education and philanthropic activities. The museum in Los Angeles will be the crowning achievement of these endeavours. Instead of a traditional gallery, a vast archive of images and stories that have shaped our imagination is being created.
Design: Ma Yansong – MAD
Source: Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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