Photo credit: CNN
Mellody Hobson celebrated a major milestone in Los Angeles as the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art welcomed some of Hollywood and sports’ biggest names.
Hobson, who co-founded the museum with filmmaker George Lucas, hosted the opening night celebration on Saturday, September 19. The event brought together stars including Oprah Winfrey, Magic Johnson and Sir Lewis Hamilton.
The long-awaited museum will officially open to the public on Tuesday, September 22.
Mellody Hobson celebrates a 17-year journey
For Hobson and Lucas, the opening represents the end of a lengthy journey.
The couple spent years working to bring the museum to Los Angeles. Hobson previously described the project as a difficult process filled with setbacks.
At the opening celebration, she reflected on Lucas’ determination to create a major institution focused on narrative art.
Hobson also described the museum as a place designed for people from different backgrounds to connect with stories through art.
That vision is reflected throughout the museum.
Oprah Winfrey joins the celebration
Oprah Winfrey was among the high-profile guests at the opening night event.
She also played a role in the evening’s presentation alongside Samuel L. Jackson. The pair participated in a rooftop presentation that connected the museum’s focus on storytelling with a large-scale drone show.
The star power continued throughout the night.
Magic Johnson was also among the celebrities and cultural figures who attended the celebration. His appearance added another major name from Los Angeles’ entertainment and sports communities to the guest list.
Lewis Hamilton helps mark the opening
Lewis Hamilton was another notable figure at the museum.
The Formula 1 champion was not only a guest. He also served as one of the co-chairs for the opening night celebration.
Hamilton joined other prominent co-chairs, including Tom Cruise, Greta Gerwig, Steven Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro and Pharrell Williams.
His involvement highlighted the museum’s broad connection to entertainment, art and popular culture.
Mellody Hobson puts storytelling at the center
The Lucas Museum focuses on the history and power of visual storytelling.
Its collection spans thousands of years and includes paintings, illustration, comics, photography, murals and cinema. The inaugural exhibitions feature more than 1,300 works across more than 30 galleries.
The museum’s five-story building sits in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park.
It also includes a 13-acre campus with public green space, gardens and areas for learning and community activities.
For Hobson, the goal extends beyond displaying famous works.
She has emphasized creating a museum where visitors from different walks of life can recognize themselves and their experiences in the stories presented.
The Lucas Museum opens to the public
The September 19 celebration gave invited guests an early look at the museum. The public opening follows on Tuesday, September 22.
The opening marks a significant moment for Hobson and Lucas after years of planning and construction.
It also introduces Los Angeles to a new institution centered on the relationship between art and storytelling.
With Oprah Winfrey, Magic Johnson, Lewis Hamilton and other major figures attending the celebration, the museum’s opening has already become a major cultural event in Los Angeles.
Now, Mellody Hobson and George Lucas are ready to welcome the public into the institution they spent years building.
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Source: Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and current opening-night coverage from Los Angeles Magazine, Deadline and the Los Angeles Times
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