Lucas Museum to display unseen 'Star Wars' pieces, curator says

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, founded by legendary Star Wars creator George Lucas and his wife, business executive Mellody Hobson, will unveil previously unseen Star Wars artefacts when it opens on September 22.
The museum’s curator, Ryan Linkof, said visitors will experience a special exhibition featuring rare Lucasfilm production materials from the Lucas Archives, including pieces that have never before been displayed publicly.
More than 1,300 objects will be showcased across 33 galleries spanning over 9,200 square metres in the museum’s futuristic building. The collection reflects decades of Lucas’ personal collecting and celebrates narrative art in many forms.
Highlights include illustrations by Norman Rockwell, Jessie Willcox Smith and N C Wyeth, alongside works by Frida Kahlo, Jacob Lawrence, Charles White and Robert Colescott. Visitors will also find creations by celebrated cartoonists such as Winsor McCay, Jack Kirby and Frank Frazetta.

Linkof said the museum provides a rare institutional home for narrative art, a genre often overlooked by traditional museums despite its cultural influence.
He described the museum as an “incredibly ambitious project” that Lucas has worked on for decades, overcoming delays including those caused by the pandemic. Hobson has described it as Lucas’ “second song”, following the global success of Star Wars and an enduring gift to future generations.
Lucas, 82, remains actively involved in the project and is pleased with its progress, Linkof said.
Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, DC Comics President Jim Lee said the museum will encourage visitors to view familiar art from comics, films and advertising in a new light, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the storytelling that surrounds everyday life. — AFP