The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opened to the public in Los Angeles Tuesday, drawing Star Wars fans and visitors for its architecture and broader art collection. Some praised the exhibits; others said the galleries needed more explanatory text.
Museum leaders have said Star Wars artifacts account for about 7% of the 100,000 square feet of gallery space. Visitors also highlighted works beyond the franchise, including Norman Rockwell’s “The Problem We All Live With,” a Diego Rivera mural and art by Frida Kahlo. One visitor who had never seen a Star Wars film said he came for the building’s architecture.
Co-founders George Lucas and Mellody Hobson addressed the first 100 visitors, students from four schools who received free tickets. Lucas said he had spent more than 50 years collecting work by illustrators, cartoonists, muralists and painters; Hobson described the collection as “the people’s art.”
