Sudden Departure of Lucas Museum Chief Curator Sparks Concerns
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles recently experienced a significant shakeup with the departure of its chief curator and deputy director, Pilar Tompkins Rivas. This news follows the previous layoff of 14% of the museum’s full-time staff, adding to concerns about the institution’s stability and leadership. Interim Chief Executive Jim Gianopulos indicated there are no plans to replace Tompkins Rivas immediately, with George Lucas, co-founder of the museum, continuing to guide curatorial direction.
The announcement came shortly after the Lucas Museum publicly committed to opening on September 22, 2026, a date postponed due to pandemic and supply chain issues. Prior changes in leadership included the resignation of inaugural Director and CEO Sandra Jackson-Dumont, and additional layoffs have impacted staff, particularly within Learning and Engagement as well as Museum Services.
Tompkins Rivas, notable for her impactful tenure at the Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College, was celebrated for curating influential exhibitions like “Tastemakers & Earthshakers” and “Regeneración.” Her leadership had transformed VPAM into a prominent center for contemporary art, earning high praise from industry colleagues.
The exit of Tompkins Rivas, a significant figure in providing Latinx artists substantial opportunities, raised questions and concerns among peers. Artist Beatriz Cortez highlighted her contributions in fostering collaboration within the artistic community. Others, such as Mario Ybarra, underlined the unsettling nature of her departure amidst a climate of racial discrimination and anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States. This event resonates particularly, given her standing as one of the few Latinx women in museum leadership roles.
Tompkins Rivas’s exit is emblematic of broader uncertainties regarding the Lucas Museum. Despite its ambitions as a $1 billion cultural hub, issues remain about its commitment to educational outreach in Los Angeles’s diverse communities, a key promise tied to its establishment on public land.