02/28/2023
City of Houston commissions 12 artworks for the new International Terminal at Bush Airport:
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) is pleased to announce an investment of more than $4 million in the selection of 12 new site-specific art commissions for the new Mickey Leland International Terminal (MLIT) and the new International Central Processer (ICP) at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The commissioned works are sponsored by Houston Airports (HAS) on behalf of the City of Houston through MOCA’s Civic Art Program.
The commissioned artworks will be new additions to the City of Houston’s Civic Art Collection and are expected to be installed and on view by spring of 2024. In line with the equity guidelines and ethos of the City’s Civic Art Program and considering the goals of the HAS, this effort sought concepts for art meant to enhance the passenger experiences by highlighting ideas that are reflective of the international character of Houston.
“The magnitude of commission efforts at IAH leads in the pace and funding for increased activity in Civic Art across the City and we’re very proud of the artworks residents and visitors to Houston will soon encounter,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “How fitting that artworks from Houston's own artists will welcome every single international passenger landing at IAH.”
For each of the six gates for MLIT, the City requested the submission of proposals from Houston-based artists to design, fabricate and install a three-part installation addressing the upper and lower landings of the six new international gates. For all commissions, preference was given to artists not currently represented in the City of Houston Civic Art Collection.
“This significant investment will provide a unique opportunity for our airport guests to experience art,” said Mario Diaz, Director of Aviation for the City of Houston. “The modern, functional and intuitive design of the new international terminal at IAH will be accentuated by these diverse works of art.”
“We are proud of our strong collaboration with the Houston Airport System,” said MOCA Director, Necole S. Irvin. “Together, we are creating a presence at the airport through art that strongly conveys the character of our city, known to be a gateway to Latin America and our warm welcome to visitors to our city.”
All of the artworks selected reflect the welcoming nature of Houston as a city with a distinct culture; celebrating and evoking the rich and diverse local fabric that makes Houston inspiring for residents and visitors alike.
The artists developing commissions for MLIT and ICP at IAH include Reginald Adams, Miguel Arzabe, Carolina Caycedo, Marta Chilindron, Emilie Duval, Leslie Gaworecki, Marlo Saucedo and Houston Poet Laureate Emanuelee “Outspoken” Bean, Graciela Hasper, Lovie Olivia, Gerardo Rosales, Regina Silveira, Nick Vaughn & Jake Margolin and Rafael Vargas-Suarez of Vargas-Suarez Universal.
