Architecture

Lights, Camera, Action: George Lucas' museum breaks ground in LA

Lights, Camera, Action: George Lucas' museum breaks ground in LA
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has undergone three redesigns since it was unveiled back in 2014
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has undergone three redesigns since it was unveiled back in 2014
View 7 Images
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is expected to be completed in late 2021
1/7
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is expected to be completed in late 2021
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will feature significant greenery on its rooftop terrace
2/7
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will feature significant greenery on its rooftop terrace
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has finally started construction, following an official groundbreaking ceremony
3/7
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has finally started construction, following an official groundbreaking ceremony
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art's budget comes in at US$1.5 billion
4/7
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art's budget comes in at US$1.5 billion
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has undergone three redesigns since it was unveiled back in 2014
5/7
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has undergone three redesigns since it was unveiled back in 2014
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will be located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles
6/7
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will be located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art's interior is envisioned as a huge cavernous space
7/7
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art's interior is envisioned as a huge cavernous space
View gallery - 7 images

You could be forgiven for doubting that George Lucas' US$1.5 billion museum would ever happen, but it's official: the much-anticipated project has finally got underway. A groundbreaking ceremony took place recently and it is expected to be completed in the second half of 2021.

There have been more twists and turns to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art's story than a Hollywood movie, but to recap, the project started off as a bulbous volcano-like structure in Chicago, underwent a redesign and was seemingly on track before ultimately being cancelled amid acrimony and ended up relocating to Los Angeles with a new and improved design.

Looking like some kind of futuristic spaceship that wouldn't be too out of place in one of Lucas' movies, the museum will be located in LA's Exposition Park on the site of some former parking lots. Landscaping is being handled by local firm Studio-MLA.

The first floor and greenery-covered roof areas will be open to the public, while the museum proper is envisioned as a huge cavernous space. It will measure some 300,000 sq ft (27,870 sq m) and include a public research library and classrooms.

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art's interior is envisioned as a huge cavernous space
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art's interior is envisioned as a huge cavernous space

The collection of art to be installed is valued at over $400 million and will be divided into three categories: Narrative Art, the Art of Cinema, and Digital Art. Donated by George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson, the collection includes over 10,000 paintings, illustrations and movie memorabilia.

"Yes, this is an art museum, but I'm also trying to position it as an anthropological museum," says Lucas. "It is my feeling that popular art is an insight into a society and what they aspire to; what they really want, what they really are — it is about telling the narrative of their story, their history and their belief system. I believe all kinds of art have a right to exist. I think it's important to have a museum, that I used to jokingly say, supports all the orphan arts that nobody wants to see, but everybody loves. So that's my dream for this."

Sources: MAD, Lucas Museum

View gallery - 7 images
2 comments
2 comments
Nelson Hyde Chick
Looks like Lucas ejaculate.
Tom Lee Mullins
I am putting that on my bucket list. I would to go see it once it is completed.