Galactic Gallery Is Out Of This World

by Brooke Ezzo | photo courtesy of Ben Stevens

Somewhere between a galaxy far far away and Diagon Alley, you’ll find a popculture art gallery that is bringing some of the most iconic movie moments to life. Whether you want to travel Back to the Future or get advice from a lifelike Yoda statue, Galactic Gallery in Flower Mound is a destination spot for all pop art fanatics. own Dallas convention, which drew in a few hundred guests.” By the time he sold in 2014, the Dallas Comic-Con had become a major event, “It’s not your grandmother’s art gallery,” and rare finds over his 20 years as owner over the world each year. owner Ben Stevens said. “Think Batman, and operator of the ultimate comic book hosting nearly 50,000 attendees from all The Muppets, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and convention, the Dallas Comic Con. The fan In his post-convention life, Stevens started science fiction.” expo is a playground for comics, anime, collecting pop culture art more seriously. The Copper Canyon resident has accrued an incredible collection of memorabilia gaming, cosplay, and is a hub for celebrity sightings. “After being laid off That turned into a desire to build a gallery. The custom Stevens was first from my tech job in built 5,000-squarefoot building opened introduced to the fascinating world of 1994, I took that in September and houses hundreds comics at a young age, going to his opportunity to start my of original movie posters, book first convention in covers, promotional the late 1970s with his father, who was own Dallas convention, paintings, animation cells, reproductions, a collector of many things including which drew in a few and vintage sci-fi movie posters from Disney comics from the 1940s. hundred guests.” the 1940s and 1950s. “It’s really an “It had an impact on my life that I wouldn’t extension of the things I enjoyed realize until much later,” Stevens said. collecting at my own comic cons,” Stevens “After being laid off from my tech job in said. “Right now, 90 percent of the space 1994, I took that opportunity to start my is dedicated to Drew Struzan — an artist

that few know who he is, but most have seen his work.”

Drew Struzan, a man George Lucas dubbed as “the only collectible artist since World War II,” is responsible for some of the most recognizable movie posters for classic films as such as “Hook,” “Star Wars,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Indiana Jones,” “The Muppets,” and dozens more.

“He literally painted most of the films I enjoyed growing up,” Stevens said. “It is an amazing thing to share. Building this gallery to show the world his work is my effort to seal Drew’s legacy as one of the great artists of my generation.”

Stevens said the desire to bring Drew to his comic conventions as a guest for fans to meet and get his autograph is how their friendship began. At first, Drew passed on the idea because he did not understand why fans would want his signature. But Stevens persisted.

“I visited Drew in Pasadena, California and purchased an original Indiana Jones painting that was used for the movie poster,”

“I visited Drew in Pasadena, California and purchased an original Indiana Jones painting that was used for the movie poster,” Stevens said. “Thousands, maybe tens of thousands of posters are printed, but there is only one original painting.”

After the initial visit and multiple dinners, the friendship between artist and fan was formed and continues today. “How exciting it was as I look back to those visits,” Stevens said. “Our friendship grew, and I eventually got Drew to do a few Comic Cons all over North America. Fans loved meeting him, and he enjoyed seeing their faces light up while they endlessly told him how much this or that poster art meant to them. It was the same feeling I had.”

The Galactic Gallery is currently open as “by appointment only,” but Stevens suggested the future may include open house days, special events, and celebrity signings.

For more on Galactic Gallery, visit GalacticGallery.com