Star Wars creator George Lucas has previewed the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art during his first appearance at Comic-Con in San Diego, California.
At the convention on Sunday (27 July), Lucas shared new details about the upcoming museum, which is set to open in Los Angeles next year.
He was joined by Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and artist and production designer Doug Chiang, with the panel moderated by Queen Latifah.
The Comic-Con session attracted a record-breaking number of guests, welcoming a crowd of more than 6,000 people.
Co-founded by Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will be the world’s first institution dedicated to the exploration of narrative art.
It will celebrate illustrated storytelling across eras and cultures, such as ancient cave drawings, children’s book illustrations, comic books and digital media.
Opening the panel, Lucas said the museum “is a temple to the people’s art”.
Del Toro, a Lucas Museum board member, said: “Imagine if we only had classical music, and rock and roll was never created?”
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to open in 2026
Chiang, Lucasfilm’s SVP and executive design director, said: “Comic art and magazine illustration were kind of looked down upon… but it was a way for me to enjoy art, and it invited me to learn more about art.
“And what I love about what George and Mellody are doing with this museum is they are acknowledging and giving respect to artists who really haven’t been highlighted before.”
During the session, Latifah teased some of the art in the museum’s collection, including the first-ever Flash Gordon comic strip, an original splash page from Black Panther (1968), and original Peanuts strips from the 1950s and ’60s.
“I think when people step into this museum, they will be emotionally affected by it,” she said.
In addition, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s collection includes works by illustrators including Norman Rockwell and Beatrix Potter, and comic artists including Jack Kirby and Alison Bechdel.
Also, the new museum is the holder of the Lucasfilm archive, which includes props, models, concept art, costumes, and more.
Located in LA’s Exposition Park, the 300,000-square-foot institution will house galleries, two theatres, a retail outlet, a library, a café, a restaurant, and event spaces.
Lead image credit: Eric Charbonneau / Lucas Museum of Narrative Art via Getty Images
