Although the phrase “airport art” can pejoratively refer to souvenir art works purchased in airports, it also designates the presence of small- and large-scale artworks, including murals, floor mosaics, multistory sculptures, and light and sound environments located in airport terminals, as well as in their air rail stations, and car parks, and alongside approach roads. The scope of airport art has evolved from the single mural commission in the 1930s to encompass the practice of collecting artworks and artifacts, employing dedicated curators and administrators for art, building exhibition spaces for rotating shows, collaborating with local museums, and offering cultural learning experiences.

From being a decorative add-on to a new terminal building, art has now become a key element in airport wayfinding strategies, a way to humanize ...