By: Erika Mailman | From: TimeOut
Often, people quickly walk past airport art: they’re worried about getting to their gate and then once they’ve found it, they’re either thinking about food or charging their phone. But building in time to contemplate the various pieces of art on display can transform a sterile waiting experience into something special. Even just 10 minutes spent locating the art in the airport can benefit you for the exercise, the pleasant accomplishing of a mission, and the chance to hopefully be amused or moved by what you see. And if you travel frequently, you can look forward to visiting a particular piece of art each time your layover brings you to that airport, like a fist bump from an old friend. Some airports offer massive and jaw-dropping permanent installations (like Sacramento, first on our list), while some have rotating exhibits to show you something different each time you fly. Here’s hoping our list of the coolest airport art in America proves inspirational!
5. San Antonio International Airport
What to see: Sebastian's Star of Texas (La Estrella de Texas)
This airport offers public art and rotating exhibits and enjoys showcasing the work of Mexican artist Sebastian. A creative take on the Texas “lone star,” his Star of Texas (La Estrella de Texas) is a 14-foot-high installation found just outside the airport to welcome visitors. Painted the artist’s signature red color, the sculpture is made up of five vertical metal elements that lean on each other to create a star in negative space at the top. If you’re a local or your layover happens to coincide, the airport hosts creative cultural programming and performing arts performances through Sat Cultura and SAT Live. Another monumental and impressive installation is the Day Star Archway by Bill Fitzgibbons, comprised of upright wings from a BAC 1-11 airplane, which you can walk through to enter the long-term garage. At night, a computer-controlled LED light system adds drama to the 40-foot-high piece.