Spaceship-style LA museum to launch in 2026 with sci-fi treasures

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, designed by MAD Architects, is set to open in Los Angeles in 2026 after years of delays and a relocation from its originally planned Chicago site. The futuristic, spaceship-like structure in Exposition Park features over 300,000 square feet across five floors, including galleries, theaters, and event spaces. Its façade is composed of more than 1,500 curved fiberglass-reinforced polymer panels and glass, with green landscaping and elevated public areas. The museum’s collection spans global narrative art and media, showcasing works by artists such as Norman Rockwell, Frida Kahlo, and Gordon Parks, alongside props and artifacts from George Lucas’s film legacy, including Star Wars. George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson envisioned the museum as a tribute to illustrators and narrative art, emphasizing its role in inspiring imagination and achievement, particularly in science fiction. The museum aims to honor often overlooked visual storytellers and serve as a cultural landmark blending architecture, art, and