Austin Bergstrom Airport selects artists for public art program expansion

The Austin Arts Commission meeting on April 21, 2025, focused on the approval of the selection process and recommendations for the Austin Bergstrom International Airport's expansion and development program, specifically for Phase 2 of the art in public places initiative. This phase includes six key locations within the airport, such as the midfield concourse, ticketing, arrivals, baggage claim, curbside, and pedestrian bridges.

Jaime Castillo, the manager for Art and Public Places, provided an overview of the selection process, which involved a Texas-wide open call for artists. The selection panel, composed of members from various Texas cities, reviewed 95 applications, with 68% coming from local artists. The panel's recommendations included a mix of established and emerging artists, emphasizing creativity and community engagement.

For the midfield concourse, Virginia Montgomery was recommended for her video installation, while Carlin Ray was named as the alternate. The departures ticketing area will feature work by Gilberto Rocha, with Jose Rafael Vargas Suarez as the alternate. Jasmine Zalaya was chosen for the baggage claim, with Jasmine Bedard as the alternate. Steve Parker and Brad Oldham were recommended for the curbside area, while Hillebrand and Maximin were selected for the elevated pedestrian bridge.

A notable decision was made regarding the lower level pedestrian crossings, where Anaita Bradbury was recommended for two of the three sites, with Raul Buitrago receiving the third site. This decision sparked discussion among commissioners about the rationale behind awarding multiple sites to a single artist, emphasizing the importance of the artist's vision and ability to create cohesive work across the spaces.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the significance of these art installations in enhancing the airport experience and fostering local artistic talent. The next steps involve finalizing contracts with the selected artists and moving forward with the implementation of their projects.