Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Opens in Los Angeles

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, founded by "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, has opened in Los Angeles. The museum, over 15 years in the making, aims to showcase "narrative art"—works that tell stories through images.

The museum features a diverse collection, including works by Beatrix Potter, Banksy, Frida Kahlo, and Batman costumes, all under Lucas's definition of narrative art as "the people's art." The journey to opening involved rejected proposals in San Francisco and Chicago before settling on Los Angeles.

The 300,000-square-foot museum houses approximately 1,200 works from Lucas's personal collection of 40,000 items, which he describes as varied but united by their narrative quality and deserving of a museum setting.

Exhibitions are spread across five floors, including galleries for children's stories, murals, a research library, and two movie theaters dedicated to cinematic art. Lucas described the museum's creation as a challenging but ultimately celebratory process.

The museum intentionally avoids a guided approach, encouraging visitors to explore and find their own connections with the art, a concept that balances curation with free exploration.

This unguided format is intended to spark inspiration and allow viewers to engage with the artwork without preconceived notions about its value or context.

While many galleries are thematically organized, some focus on specific artists or mediums, leaving much of the discovery to the visitor's personal journey.

The museum's architecture and landscape are also designed to tell a story, with organic flow and natural inspirations, aiming to make visitors curious and become part of the neighborhood's narrative.

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