George Lucas Admits Museum Project Nearly Overwhelmed Him
At a press preview, George Lucas discussed the 17-year effort to build the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, including failed attempts in San Francisco and Chicago and construction delays. He admitted the project 'almost broke my will.' The museum, co-founded with Mellody Hobson, opens to the public on Sept. 22 in Los Angeles.
The museum's physical scale is considerable: a five-story, 300,000-square-foot structure with over 100,000 square feet of gallery space, two theaters, a research library, classrooms, and a rooftop restaurant. Its permanent collection exceeds 40,000 works, with the inaugural exhibition featuring more than 1,300 pieces spanning fine art, comic art, children's book illustrations, and movie posters.
The path to completion was arduous. After failed attempts in San Francisco and Chicago, Los Angeles was chosen in 2017, with construction beginning the following year. Pandemic shutdowns and supply-chain delays extended the timeline, though the museum's campus includes 13 acres of gardens designed by landscape architect Mia Lehrer. Star Wars artifacts are present but represent only a fraction of the collection, which Lucas frames as honoring illustrators who make myths feel real.
This opening may shift how narrative art is valued within the broader cultural landscape, elevating illustration and comic art to museum status alongside traditional painting. It could also strengthen Los Angeles's position as a cultural destination, drawing visitors to Exposition Park and potentially influencing how other institutions approach populist art forms. The museum's success may encourage similar ventures, though its billion-dollar price tag suggests such projects remain accessible only to the wealthiest patrons.