The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced 18 new public art commissions for JFK Airport’s Terminal 6, opening in 2026. Led by the Public Art Fund, the initiative showcases the works of both native New Yorkers and international contemporary artists currently residing in the city.
The $4.2 billion Terminal 6 project is a massive undertaking, with its artwork being a major highlight, boasting a $22 million budget. These artworks are intended to make Terminal 6 a notable point of arrival for both international visitors and locals, emphasizing JFK’s role as a global hub and cultural gateway.
The collection includes sculptures, suspended installations, wall works, and glass mosaic floor medallions. Wall-based works will be contributed by Charles Gaines, Barbara Kruger, Sky Hopinka, and Turkish-German artist Nevin Aladağ. Suspended sculptures, hung from the new terminal’s ceiling, will be created by Nina Chanel Abney, Haegue Yang, and Laure Prouvost. Additionally, ten other artists, including Candida Alvarez, Charline von Heyl, and Shara Hughes, will produce glass mosaic floor medallions.
Many artists, such as Hopinka and Gaines, are known for their conceptual art, where ideas and concepts take precedence over traditional aesthetics and materials. This style often uses text, found objects, and multimedia to convey complex ideas and provoke thought.
Artists like Uman and Aladağ explore abstraction with bold lines and emotive colors. Kruger brings her unique style to the terminal, incorporating text into striking magazine images, solidifying her place in feminist and political art.
Contemporary art is playing an increasingly pivotal role in airports. Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, showcases monumental installations like Urs Fischer’s Lamp Bear, and Jean-Michel Othoniel’s Cosmos. Heathrow’s Terminal 5 hosts exhibitions curated by Tate Modern, featuring artists like Damien Hirst and Anish Kapoor.
Other airports, such as Rome-Fiumicino International Airport and Larnaca International Airport are known for their well-preserved antic artworks that serve as a representation of their artistic heritage. Schiphol presents works from the Rijksmuseum, including pieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer.
All of these exhibitions enhance the travel experience by transforming airports into cultural gateways that offer travelers unique art and historical insights, and provide a permanent public space for ambitious contemporary works.
Explore Zarastro Art’s exhibition at Istanbul Airport.
