Pilar Tompkins Rivas, chief curator and deputy director of curatorial and collections at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, has left the museum less than a year before its scheduled September 2026 opening. The museum stated it has no immediate plans to replace her, with George Lucas continuing to oversee curatorial direction. This departure follows a series of staffing issues, including the exit of director and CEO Sandra Jackson-Dumont in March 2025, layoffs of 22 staff members in May, and the earlier losses of curator Amanda Hunt and curator-at-large Dan Nadel. The $1-billion museum, first announced in 2017, has faced repeated delays due to the pandemic and supply-chain shortages.
The ongoing leadership turnover raises concerns about the museum's stability and curatorial vision as it approaches its long-awaited opening. With a collection of 40,000 works spanning comic art, illustration, and film memorabilia, the Lucas Museum aims to elevate narrative art as 'a temple to the people’s art.' However, the loss of key curatorial staff and the reliance on George Lucas for content direction may affect its institutional credibility and ability to attract top talent. The museum's struggles also highlight broader challenges in launching major cultural institutions amid economic and organizational pressures.