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From Boba Fett to Banksy: We take you inside Exposition Park's new Lucas Museum
Naboo Starfighter at the entrance to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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Lou Caltabiano
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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Lucas Museum opens to the public this month
LAist All Things Considered host Julia Paskin speaks to Lucas Museum of Narrative Art senior curator Ryan Linkof about the museum's collection, which has a lot more than just Star Wars.
Exposition Park’s new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens to the public on Sept. 22 — and LAist got a preview.
The 300,000-square-foot building, designed by architect Ma Yansong, working with the firm Stantec, could easily blend into the scenery of Coruscant or Bespin in the Star Wars universe.
For the fans of that certain long-time ago, far, far-away universe, you are immediately greeted by a Naboo Starfighter big enough to fit inside at the museum entrance with a life-size R2-D2 in the co-pilot seat.
Star Wars fans will definitely get their fill with pieces like this in the cinema section:
Doug Chiang, Podrace Crash, production art for "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace," 1995–99. Digital print.
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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R2-D2 and C-3PO pose next to their concept drawing.
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Kevin Tidmarsh/LAist
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You may recognize these speeders from the chase scene in "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones."
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Kevin Tidmarsh/LAist
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Yes, that's a mockup of General Grievous in his wheel bike in the background.
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You can find designs and set pieces from other George Lucas production companies, Industrial Light and Magic and Skywalker Sound.
But the museum is dedicated to impactful storytelling of all kinds, with a special focus on the work of illustrators.
“Most of the stories are myths, they're not real, but the illustrations make them real,” George Lucas said at a preview event. “A picture is very powerful, and the stories are very powerful, and you combine them together, and those two elements create a society.”
So, you’ll also see works like this E.H. Shepard illustration from Winnie-the-Pooh in a section dedicated to children’s stories.
E. H. Shepard, “Christopher Robin at the enchanted place,” illustration for Home Chat, 1928.
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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And that’s not the only significant work you’ll see there.
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“You can see one of the first historically important ‘dogs playing poker’ paintings made in 1894 as a whiskey advertisement, very close to Frida Kahlo, very close to Batman,” Lucas Museum senior curator Ryan Linkof said.
The museum’s umbrella of “narrative art” encompasses fine art like these works from painter, pro-football player and actor Ernie Barnes, photographer Dorothea Lange, and comic book artist Rafael Navarro:
Ernie Barnes, The Critic’s Corner, 2007. Acrylic on canvas.
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Matt Kroening
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California, 1936.
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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Rafael Navarro, art for Sonámbulo: Mexican Stand-Off, 2006.
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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Murals and public art
The museum features public art installations — both reproductions of works by Diego Rivera and Banksy.
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Three of the featured works by Banksy.
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Matthew Kroening
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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You'll also experience an extensive video installation of Judith Baca’s The Great Wall of Los Angeles, which you can take in while sitting instead of having to walk the whole length.
A new green space in the middle of the city
The museum boasts extensive grounds built on a former parking lot. There, you can see a number of sculptures, including one of Jabba the Hutt and Princess Leia.
Jabba the Hutt and Princess Leia statue.
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Kevin Tidmarsh
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LAist
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“This public park is available and accessible to everyone all the time, even if you don't come to the museum, even if the museum's not open. You can come to the research library,” Linkof said. “It's an asset and a resource for everyone, including and especially the community.”
How to visit
- Location: One Lucas Plaza, Exposition Park, Los Angeles
- Tickets: Timed tickets cost $25 for adults, $21 for seniors and are free for minors, active-duty military, members and LM37 passholders. See your options ▶
- Park access: Free
- Regular hours:
Mon, Wed, Thu: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sun: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed Tuesdays
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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