Opening Night of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art held its grand opening, drawing an impressive lineup of celebrities akin to an Academy Awards after-party. As the event began under the museum’s towering elliptical oculus, Oprah Winfrey greeted Robert De Niro, while Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart conversed with Spike Lee before bypassing the red carpet. Laura Dern and Greta Gerwig shared laughs at the entrance, and Samuel L. Jackson made a light-hearted remark as he settled on a nearby bench, “Hey, look what I did!”
The celebration included a notable performance by a vocal collective co-founded by Pharrell Williams, clad in white robes. Mellody Hobson, wife of George Lucas, recounted Lucas’ excitement about the guest list. She assured him that everyone he hoped for would attend, eliciting laughter during her opening remarks.
A highlight of the evening took place at the Skywalker Grill, where numerous directors gathered for a remarkable photo. Among them were George Lucas, Jon M. Chu, Chris Columbus, and Steven Spielberg, among others. Unfortunately, organizers could not locate Greta Gerwig for the photo.
The event also welcomed a range of artists, including Jeff Koons, Refik Anadol, Judy Baca, and Takashi Murakami. Museum directors such as Joanne Heyler from the Broad and Michael Govan from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art mingled as well. They expressed relief at attending rather than hosting a gathering, particularly after the opening of the Geffen Galleries earlier this year.
During the event, Lucas and Hobson explained the museum’s purpose and uniqueness. Lucas, who personally curated the museum’s 100,000 square feet of gallery space, addressed criticisms regarding the juxtaposition of masterworks with pop culture elements. He expressed that the museum aims to acknowledge illustrators as artists and challenge traditional views on art.
Lucas highlighted his collaboration with illustrators throughout his career and emphasized the lack of major museums showcasing this style of art. He hopes his museum will change that perception. Queen Latifah, co-hosting the event, addressed the crowd, saying, “Paris has the Louvre, New York has the Met, and now L.A. has the artistic equal.”
Establishing the Lucas Museum in Los Angeles required persistent effort over more than a decade. The search extended to cities like Chicago and San Francisco, facing civic challenges and legal battles around the use of public parkland. Hobson humorously advised against supporting a spouse’s desire to build a museum, underscoring the challenges they encountered.
Hobson praised Lucas for his unwavering commitment to showcasing talented illustrators often overlooked by the art world. She accepted criticism associating narrative art with “popcorn movies,” welcoming the perception with open arms. The evening concluded with a captivating drone show over the skyline, narrated by Winfrey and Jackson, featuring iconic images from the museum’s collection. Guests then moved indoors for a performance by the Black Eyed Peas.