The John F. Kennedy Airport in New York has brought in 18 artists to decorate its upcoming Terminal 6.
The ambitious new terminal, which costs about $4.2 billion, is set to open in 2026. Among the many interesting aspects of the T6, the art would certainly be the highlight. The airport has brought 18 artists to create artwork and installations for the terminal. These include both native New Yorkers like Sky Hopinka and Charles Gaines, as well as foreign artists residing in New York – like Felipe Baeza from Mexico.
The budget for the art works of the new terminal is said to be $22 million. It is completely funded by JFK Millennium Partners, which is a subsidiary of the Vantage Group. Some of the planned artworks include 10 majestic glass mosaic floor medallions built by a collaboration of multiple artists and suspended sculptures by Haegue Yang and Laura Prouvost. With this, JFK would boast the largest permanent art collection in the USA.
The announcement for Terminal 6 came at the heels of art unveilings by LaGuardia Airport in Queens, and the Newark Liberty International Airport. Terminal C at LaGuardia inaugurated six new installations, in addition to the five already installed in its Terminal B. However, its budget was only half of what JFK is spending on its new terminal.
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Speaking about the T6, Rick Cotton (executive director, Port Authority) said: “Public art that is inspiring and evocative of our region is an essential part of the Port Authority’s strategy to create world-class airports that are becoming destinations in their own right. Just as we have done at LaGuardia and at Newark-Liberty’s Terminal A, the public art at JFK’s new Terminal 6 will dazzle travelers and help create a sense of place unique to New York.”
