Oprah Winfrey, Samuel L. Jackson, Queen Latifah and More Celebrate Lucas Museum Opening Night

Co-founders George Lucas and Mellody Hobson hosted Opening Night for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art as part of a series of inaugural events leading to the museum’s public opening on September 22nd. Created to celebrate the universal tradition of storytelling through images, the museum spans everything from prehistoric cave paintings to contemporary screen art while examining how visual stories influence culture, beliefs and communities. The evening was co-chaired by Julie Bell, Tom Cruise, Guillermo del Toro, Greta Gerwig, Sir Lewis Hamilton, Jensen Huang, JR, Steven Spielberg and Pharrell Williams.

Guests began the evening at Lucas Plaza with a cocktail reception accompanied by a 27-piece orchestra before Voices of Fire took the stage. The Virginia Beach vocal collective, co-founded by Bishop Ezekiel Williams and Pharrell Williams, was joined by Jon Batiste on piano and an additional 75 singers for a powerful performance featuring Star Wars’ “Yoda’s Theme,” Pharrell’s “Happy” and “JOY (Unspeakable).” The performance set the tone for an evening designed to unite different forms of storytelling, music and artistic expression.

Queen Latifah then hosted a special program featuring remarks from Lucas, Hobson, architect Ma Yansong and Lucas Museum CEO Tracey Bates. Lucas emphasized his belief that individuals should be empowered to determine what art means to them, while Hobson described the museum as a project centered on “people” and reflected on Lucas’ determination to bring the vision to life. Bates thanked Lucas for five decades of collecting and championing illustration, comics and narrative art, while Queen Latifah highlighted the museum’s mission to give narrative artists greater recognition and preserve the way art passes values from one generation to another.

Following the program, guests were invited to explore more than 30 galleries before heading to the museum’s fifth-floor rooftop for another major moment. Oprah Winfrey and Samuel L. Jackson introduced and narrated a Nova Sky Stories drone presentation that transformed the night sky into a canvas for works represented in the museum’s collection. Images inspired by the Cave of Altamira, N.C. Wyeth’s The Storybook, Julie Bell’s The Huntress, Banksy’s Girl with Balloon, the Star Wars Millennium Falcon and Maxfield Parrish’s Ecstasy appeared overhead, extending the museum’s celebration of narrative art beyond its gallery walls.

The festivities continued inside with a surprise performance from the Black Eyed Peas, who delivered a medley of hits including “Let’s Get It Started,” “Where Is the Love?” and “I Gotta Feeling.” Additional performances throughout the evening included LA Dance Project, Jake Shimabukuro, Xavier de Maistre, Damien Escobar, Kaki King, DJ Kiss and DJ M.O.S. From orchestral and gospel performances to drones, dance and pop music, Opening Night showcased the broad approach to storytelling at the heart of Lucas and Hobson’s new cultural institution.

Opening Night marked the culmination of years of work by Lucas and Hobson to create a permanent home for narrative art in its many forms. With more than 30 galleries and a collection spanning centuries of visual storytelling, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art officially opens its doors to the public on September 22nd, beginning a new chapter for the ambitious cultural landmark.