George Lucas Teases His New Museum at First Ever Comic-Co…
George Lucas made his first ever appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, where he previewed the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art that’s set to open in 2026. But before Lucas took the stage in the iconic Hall H, he was introduced by none other than Queen Latifah.
Lucas was rightly met with a rousing applause when he hit the stage.
After the dust settled, Lucas talked at length about his new museum, which Variety reported extensively on.
At the heart of the museum is Lucas’s personal, meticulously curated collection of art, which includes works by legendary artists such as Norman Rockwell, Frida Kahlo, and Jessie Willcox Smith, as well as many previously unseen pieces.
Joining Lucas for the discussion were Guillermo del Toro and Doug Chiang, both long-time collaborators and fellow champions of narrative art. The discussion reflected on the museum’s purpose, which is to elevate illustration, concept art, and narrative painting, per Variety.
“I’ve been doing this for 50 years now, and then it occurred to me that I don’t know what I am going to do with [all the art] because I refuse to sell it,” Lucas told the audience. “Art is more about an emotional connection. Not how much it cost, or what celebrity made it. If you have an emotional connection, then it’s art.”
He continued, “I’ve worked with hundreds of illustrators in my life, and they’re all brilliant, but they don’t get recognized for anything. This museum is a temple to the people.”
Originally announced in 2016, the museum was set to be built in Chicago near Lake Michigan. But a lawsuit by the organization Friends of the Parks led to the abandonment of the Chicago site.
Eventually, Lucas and his team chose Exposition Park in Los Angeles as the museum’s new home, breaking ground in 2018. The building itself, a sleek and futuristic design, reflects the forward-thinking ambition of its founder. Lucas also teased the museum’s celebration of science fiction.
“It’s one thing that this kind of art [featured] will celebrate because of science fiction. Science fiction is a myth, but we have made it real,” said Lucas. “Humans made it real because of science fiction books and art that makes people say, ‘Oh, we could go to the moon,’ and once that idea is implemented, then we believe we could do it.”
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