Desirae Embree Critiques Lucas Museum of Narrative Art as a $1 Billion Monument to George Lucas's Tastes
In an opinion article for ArtReview, Desirae Embree expresses her disappointment with the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, located in South Los Angeles and co-founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson. Despite its opening after 16 years of planning, the museum primarily showcases pieces from the couple's private collection and fails to deliver on its promise of 'the people's art.' Embree criticizes the vague interpretation of 'narrative art' and the lack of contextual information in the exhibits. She highlights a 14 percent reduction in staff in 2025, which resulted in the disbanding of the education team, leaving current offerings devoid of educational content. The 'Western Stories' gallery is said to distort Indigenous displacement, while female artists and women-led films are notably absent. Embree questions Lucas's involvement following the chief curator's exit, ultimately labeling the museum a $1 billion tribute to his preferences.
Key facts
- The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opened in South Los Angeles after 16 years in development and failed attempts to find a home in two other cities.
- The museum was co-founded by filmmaker George Lucas and businesswoman Mellody Hobson, with holdings largely from their private collection.
- The opening hang includes works ranging from a digital reproduction of the Cave of Altamira to contemporary manga, with a bias toward twentieth-century illustrators.
- The museum's 30-plus galleries provide no context beyond basic tombstone information, and the visitor's brochure defines narrative art only as that which 'illustrates stories'.
- A 14 percent staff reduction in 2025 gutted the museum's education and public programming team, and current materials do not mention educational programming.
- The 'Western Stories' gallery consists entirely of 'Wild West' imagery, and the 'Work' gallery focuses on white men in industrial labor, such as N.C. Wyeth's 'Slag was a figure for sculptors' (1918).
- Fewer than 7 percent of films shown in the museum's theatres are directed by women, and female artists like Jessie Willcox Smith receive only token representation.
- George Lucas has total oversight of 'content direction' and 'hand curated' the opening hang, according to CEO Tracey Bates, following the chief curator's departure in late 2025.
Entities
Artists
- Desirae Embree
- George Lucas
- Mellody Hobson
- N.C. Wyeth
- Jessie Willcox Smith
- Norman Saunders
- Frank Frazetta
- Tracey Bates
Institutions
- Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
- ArtReview
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- South LA
- Cave of Altamira
- Spain