Los Angeles welcomed the grand opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on Tuesday, fulfilling a 17‑year vision of creator George Lucas and his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson. The $1 billion museum, located in Exposition Park near the University of Southern California, showcases a unique mix of popular and high‑brow works.

Five highlights to seek out

1. “The Hutt Slayer” statue – A striking bronze of Princess Leia in her metal bikini choking Jabba the Hutt, commissioned for the museum’s surrounding green space.

2. Star Wars in Motion exhibit – Original vehicles from the original trilogy and prequels, plus a Naboo starfighter displayed in the lobby library.

3. Iconic statues – Statues of Yoda, Grogu and Natalie Portman’s Padmé Amidala line the museum’s pathways, offering fans familiar touchpoints.

4. Banksy murals – Two walls on the fifth floor feature recently unveiled stenciled works by the elusive British street artist, including the well‑known girl releasing a heart‑shaped balloon.

5. Frida Kahlo portrait – The museum’s fourth‑floor gallery houses Kahlo’s 1940 “Autorretrato Dedicado al Dr. Eloesser,” described by its former director as “the Mona Lisa of Mexico.”

Other notable pieces include Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s 1894 “Poker Game” of dogs playing cards, and works by Norman Rockwell, Judith Baca, Diego Rivera and Pablo Picasso.

Architect Ma Yansong’s soaring, cloud‑like building frames the museum, with an oculus‑style opening that creates a celestial plaza. Ma told the Associated Press the design is meant to be a “spiritual space” that tells a story through architecture.

The Lucas Museum aims to be a “temple to the people’s art,” blending commercial illustration, comic art and traditional fine art for visitors of all ages.

Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.