The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and publisher TASCHEN are releasing a book exploring the images that have shaped how people imagine, remember and understand the world.
The project coincides with the museum’s inaugural exhibition, opening Sept. 22, 2026. It will be published in a two-volume edition as well as two smaller formats. The book traces the history of visual storytelling, connecting traditions of image-making across centuries, cultures and mediums.
The book includes texts by George Lucas and Guillermo del Toro and an introduction by Ryan Linkof. It features work by artists including Thomas Hart Benton, Jessie Willcox Smith, Frank Frazetta, Maxfield Parrish, Norman Rockwell and N.C. Wyeth, alongside other artists working in painting, illustration, photography, comics, children’s books and film. The book is organized thematically, drawing connections across artists, eras and forms.
A section on film examines the visual world of “Star Wars,” featuring original production art, concept paintings, costumes and vehicles that show the creative process behind the franchise.
The book will be led by a two-volume Classic edition, which TASCHEN describes as the definitive format. A more compact 45 edition will also be available, along with a Piccolo edition sold exclusively at Lucas Museum retail outlets.
Contributor Bios
George Lucas is a filmmaker, writer, producer, and cofounder of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Best known as the creator of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, he has helped shape modern cinema through Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic. His longstanding support of artists and visual storytelling is reflected in the publications he has contributed to and the Museum’s founding vision.
Guillermo del Toro is a filmmaker, writer, and producer known for blending fantasy, horror, and history in works such as Frankenstein (2025), The Shape of Water (2017), and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006). A prolific author, collector, and advocate for visual culture, he has long championed artists, narrative art, and imaginative storytelling.
Ryan Linkof is Senior Curator and Head of Film Programs at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Previously, he served on the founding curatorial team of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and as a curator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and is the author and editor of numerous publications on photography, film, and narrative art.
Jessica Hundley is an author, filmmaker, and journalist. She has written for publications including Vogue, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times and has written books on artists including Dennis Hopper, David Lynch, and Gram Parsons. Hundley often explores the counterculture in her work, with a focus on metaphysics, psychedelia, and magic.