A New Home for Storytelling Through Art
After more than a decade of anticipation, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is set to open its doors in Los Angeles on September 22, 2026. The ambitious project, founded by filmmaker George Lucas and business leader Mellody Hobson, will celebrate storytelling across cultures and generations, showcasing how visual art conveys emotion, imagination, and shared human experience.
Located in Exposition Park, the five-story, 300,000-square-foot museum will feature over 40,000 works spanning centuries of narrative art — from Renaissance paintings and early photography to comic books, digital art, and cinema memorabilia.
Designed by MAD Architects, the museum’s sweeping, futuristic structure reflects its mission to bridge art and storytelling across mediums and eras.
From Murals to Movie Magic
The Lucas Museum’s collection redefines the boundaries between fine art and popular culture. Its 35 themed galleries will explore subjects such as family, childhood, sports, and adventure, drawing connections between traditional and contemporary forms of narrative expression.
Visitors can expect to see works by artistic icons including Norman Rockwell, Frida Kahlo, and Jack Kirby, alongside modern creators whose work shaped visual storytelling in the 20th and 21st centuries. The museum’s leadership has emphasized accessibility and inclusivity, positioning it as a space where visitors of all ages can see their own stories reflected in art.
While cinematic artifacts will be only one element of the broader collection, many fans will be drawn by the Lucas Archives, a vast trove of materials from George Lucas’s filmmaking career. The archives include models, props, costumes, and concept art from Lucas’s filmography — expected to feature key pieces from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and THX 1138.
A Museum for the Modern Imagination
The Lucas Museum’s vision is rooted in a belief that storytelling, in all its forms, is a universal language. According to its founders, narrative art connects imagination to empathy — transforming how people see themselves and others.
George Lucas has long collected artwork that inspired his approach to filmmaking, from classic illustration to American realism. The museum represents his effort to share that passion with the public while expanding the definition of what constitutes “museum-worthy” art.
His co-founder, Mellody Hobson, a noted business executive and former chair of DreamWorks Animation, has been instrumental in steering the project toward completion after years of planning and delays. Together, the pair envision the museum as a global hub for creativity and education, supported by extensive learning programs, public workshops, and film screenings.
Exposition Park’s New Cultural Landmark
The museum’s Los Angeles home places it alongside the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum, solidifying Exposition Park as one of the city’s premier cultural destinations. Its lush surrounding landscape will feature sculpture gardens, outdoor plazas, and public spaces designed to encourage community engagement.
The Lucas Museum is also expected to serve as an economic and educational catalyst for the area, providing new opportunities for local artists, educators, and students.
When it opens next year, the museum will mark not only a milestone for Los Angeles’s art scene but also a statement on the evolving relationship between storytelling, technology, and culture.
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art promises to be, in every sense, a gallery of imagination — one where the world’s greatest stories, both painted and projected, finally share the same stage.
